OFF THE CLOCK

At Dad's party, in a dress I hated, I served his clients. A drink? "I'm fine." Dirty jokes? "Totally fine." Forty "sorry"s through a glued-on smile, tasting blood. One more "sweet girl" and I'd have torn this dress apart.

Last guest gone. Watch ripped off. Click. My time now. He waits in the dark, glowing red. I slide into his arms under open skies, his hot heartbeat at my back. Five, four, three, two, one.

Foot down, the city tears away. Every scream behind "I'm fine" is fuel now. The girl who nodded all night gives no ground. The guardrail, close enough to kiss. I don't want to die. Just to burn at the edge.

They only know the good girl. Only he sees the animal uncaged. No one to please, no fake smiles. I cry, laugh, sing, scream myself raw. My heart is finally mine. God, I'm alive.

A ghost all day, now I burn till I'm gone. Tomorrow they'll dress me as the good girl again. But every night I run back to him, no watch on my wrist. I'm most myself the second before I turn to ash.