ARTWORK: Jessica McLeod-Yu
KIERAN KNOX EDITED BY SISANA LAZARUS
In my room, the mirror occupies around a fifth of the space. It does not domineer the space, but nor can you look at the room’s four corners without its reflective shine catching you. On some nights, I choose to sleep with its sliding doors pressed as far away from me as possible. Those nights, I barely sleep. As I lay myself to slumber, the sheets a thin touch upon my skin, I hear the distant sound of dull knocks. A rapping, and a tapping, which only grows in its intensity. It says: rap-tap. Listen to me. It beseeches: rap-tap-tap. Hear me. It pleads: rap-tap-tap-rap. Please, listen to what I have to say. It growls: rap-rap. You have to listen to me. It hisses: rap-rap-tap. You will listen to me. It shouts: rap-rap-tap-tap. Listen now! It shrieks: Rap-rap-rap. Listen to me, mongrel! It roars so angrily: Rap-Rap-Rap. I will make you listen, putrid worm!
who speaks
CW: Negative self talk
45.
