All she wanted was rewind.
To jump off the pavement,
flying with glass
sucked into a windshield.
To rip on her blue blouse,
squeeze her bruises
back into his fingers,
and stop screaming.
As city lights thicken,
to uncrumple her cigarette
from the ashtray
and smoke it longer.
To slam the car door
on a man she soon
won't have met,
and walk backward
into the club
ready to dance
and so much younger.
First appeared in ART/LIFE