fear of red

Artwork by Lily.

you look like a clown
with the zit on the tip of your nose
covered in maybelline concealer from the drugstore
a shade too light
a cyst in the making that
coincides with the thickening of red tissue
sore nipples remind you of cow udders
pads feel like diapers all over again
you walk the hallways head down & back arched
tuck a travel size tampon into the end of your sleeve
hope mr. teacher doesn’t ask ​why
clench your legs together
a wet feeling
staining your khaki pants
you know seventh grade boys will stare
as if you were butt naked
or a poisonous berry
but no
it’s nothing like that
it’s just a twelve year old menstruating
for the first time

it’s just life ◆

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Valentina Avellaneda is a senior at the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, TX. She has been recognized by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and been published at Canva Teen Literary Journal, the 2019 issue of the Interlochen Review and at her school magazine, Octopus Ink. In her free time, Valentina can be found doing yoga, baking, and sometimes babysitting her younger siblings. Find her on Instagram.