No one there

The boxes were stacked perfectly at my front door waiting for any princess. Glittery gold ribbons and cold, shiny boxes. I carefully placed them inside the privacy of my house. I called out, “Hello?” But there was no one-- as expected. Thinking maybe it would be different. But, no. It was not different. I watched my foot kick over your gracious mountain of love. My hands ransacked it all. Like a furious banshee, paper flying everywhere, I held up the pretty lace and string. Who was this for? Who would see me in this?

I burned your lingerie.

I watched the lace and string curl into hot wiry wisps that crumbled into ash and smoke. The pink boxes and crème tissue paper strewn around my limp body like a Barbie tomb.