Teeth

by Hannah Moskowitz

Then we’re in the pool of water, except really he’s in the pool and I’m in the air, because he doesn’t want me to get cold. He has me on his shoulders, and he swears it isn’t hurting him, swears, and he spins me around and I hold my arms out like I’m flying. We swim all the way back to the shore like this. And I spin all the way home.

“I’m a fish. I’m a heartless mean king of the fish and I don’t care about you and I don’t care about anything! I’m strong!” He’s shaking like it’s the only thing he knows how to do. “I’m so strong! Nobody hurts me. Nobody can hurt me. This is my game and I didn’t do anything wrong and I’m just trying to help and it’s not my fault, I didn’t do anything, they hurt me, and I hate this.”