I open my eyes,
walking in as the neon bar sign welcomes me.
Long lashes intertwine like spider legs,
hair curls like waves,
Jeans pressed to me so tight you could see a penny in the pocket—

I sit down.
Someone says hi;
his breath as strong as sailors at sea.
He’s done this before.
It seemed normal—

He buys me a drink,
sets it on a caramel colored coaster.
It’s cold on my dry lips,
It tasted like it does everytime I drink it.
Or so I thought—

I leave him and my drink to go use the restroom.
When I return I noticed my drink moved,
no coaster under it now.
An unsettling feeling fills my stomach.
I ignored it when I shouldn’t have—

Moments later, I feel dizzy.
He directs me out into the cold,
down the stained steps from where we once were into a car,
my eyes droopy, feet slipping.
I’m frightened by now, not knowing how to make it stop—

We drive down an unknown street,
I try to speak but nothing comes out.
His large clammy hand grabs my frail little one.
What’s happening?
I close my eyes.