"Linear Foreign Bodies" by Lindsay Tigue
is what the invoice saidafter my cat's surgeryto remove the elasticshe'd swallowed and when the vetcut him open she said his intestineswere the smelliest she'd everknown and I ask my cat to nevereat elastics again but we asktoo much of pets and peopleso much of each other pleasebuy raffle tickets my children'spopcorn we need baked goodsmy registry is availableonline everything I wantis there and I look for strangersI tell them my secrets becauseeven in times like these Ican't stop there are noodles toboil places that need me placesI go to everyday the other dayI became convinced I smelled badasked my friend do I smell bad pleasetell me I am certain this alonenessis leaking out like sweatand can you smell itcan you tell the way I breathedress think smile is different whenmy life changed I was wearing a T-shirtwith a loon on it and no bra when I'm reallysad missing people I dress up wearearrings and when my cat uncurlsstands on the bed stretches and walksaway I put my nose to that warmedcrater-space his body left