My hands have been shaking more than usual. I try to ignore this as I wash a mug, pink and owl-printed from my adolescence. Steady your fingers, grip the handle, I tell myself as the suds lather up slick on my skin. It's useless: My hands quake as I scrub and the delicate ceramic slips from my hands, shattering against the floor. Cursing under my breath, I throw down the sponge and gather the shards in my palm, feeling the grit on my skin before discarding them in the trash. I wish I could do the same with my body.
Carina Stopenski (they/them) is a queer writer, librarian, and teacher from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are trying their best. Find Carina at www.carinastopenskiwriter.com.