By Ani King

Don’t give him your number don’t wait for him to call don’t pick up the phone when he calls. Don’t go on a date with him just because he looks sweet don’t get clever and ask him about his famous rock don’t ask him about his only slightly less famous cock don’t let him graze against you until you are ready to rush headlong into anything he asks. Don’t let him call you cowboy so you think you can lasso him with your rope or tie him to your bed or move him into your house or fix him breakfast or walk along the promenade with him don’t laugh when he explains that promenade is fancy for sidewalk don’t propose on a sidewalk don’t give him your father’s ring when you do. Don’t take him home to the country don’t forget that he flees when he feels lonely in the country don’t forget that he always feels lonely in the country. Don’t pick up the phone when he calls from whatever rat-fucked half burntdown bar he’s found himself in tonight or tomorrow night or the next don’t give anyone cash when they haul him home don’t be grateful when they do don’t forget the money is for little crinkling bags of unreliable happiness. Don’t take him back don’t take him back don’t take him back if you don’t plan to keep him. Don’t keep him if you don’t plan to pick him up and pick up after him when he leaves his clothes on the floor his friends on the floor his body like a rock on the floor. Don’t follow him on and on and on up this hill if it’s just to watch him fall. 

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Ani King (they/them) is a queer, gender non-compliant writer, artist, and activist from Michigan. They can be found at aniking.net, or trying to find somewhere to quietly finish a book without any more interruptions.