Incomplete Examination

Until I say, no, no more, the physician specifically
trained for such occasions, examines me naked late
the next afternoon, inch by careful inch, slowly
touching me slowly everywhere slowly. You are
ovulating, he says. He has pills for that, among
other things. He remarks upon raw skin, bruises. Keeps
finding bruise after bruise. I can not connect bruises
with what happened and I can not talk anymore. Old,
I say, fall down. I can not talk anymore. I have
already talked with the center director, the
policewoman, the center director, the psychologist,
the center director. I can not talk anymore.
Could I describe the rape for him, he says. Minor, I say.
Ordinary.

Frances Driscoll
Contents | Mudlark No. 2
Multiple Choice | Difficult Word