day three.

the verdict. 
-

cancer is a curse word in our family

a vulgar blasphemy, a profanity,

a death knell no one

with our surname has survived,

we shrink from it.

naima slapped herself in the face

when they told her it had come to you,

let out a sound like a dying animal, 

she was wounded,

mortally. 

"we can't get away from it,"
she screams, tries to tear
at her face before they stop her.

"it's following us."