By Ellie Beckett

Trigger Warning: Implied Sexual Assault

I left my treasured, blue butterfly hair clip 

on the hirsute carpet of your college dormitory. 

Would you please give her back to me? 

I found her in a drawer of forgotten things, 

alongside baby pictures and a brush my mother used to use to comb my hair. I always cried as she untangled the knots. 

Please give her back. 

You were the one to rip her out. 

With passion, with rage. 

I neglected to put her back on, with all my other garments 

foolish in my haste to leave. 

Please 

give her back. 

I have torn skin from myself thinking about what I have condemned her to. My little blue butterfly confined to cobweb in a corner of that room. Fluttering forever, to no avail. 

Or placed proudly, perhaps, on a windowsill, lauded like a trophy. I beg of you not to touch her again. 

Give it back.

–

Ellie is a 19 year old writer from Cork, Ireland. Their hobbies include journalling, writing and playing the piano.