My Body is a Cage and Other Stories

“I’ll do it this week,” Eileen lies. “I haven’t missed a dose in months so I don’t think they
have anything to do with it.”
Work is mostly the same. That night she only getsharassed by one man, which is a plus.
He says, grinning, “They gave me a code word for adiscount.” She plays along and asks what it
is. It turns out to be “I’ve got a big dick” whichis five words, not one, but she just hands him his
bag.
That night, or early morning, when she jolts awakeat three a.m. the spider man is there
again. The buzzing swells as it crawls above her likethe night before but this time when it
extends its neck she can hear popping noises, as ifthe vertebrae in its neck are cracking. She can
see its claws digging into the ceiling’s plaster.It’s way too real. She opens her mouth to scream
and to her abject horror, her scream comes out ofits mouth. She can hear herself panting, hear
the rush of air that comes out when she tries to makesound. She tries to call for help, but the
creature steals it once more. The heat of its breathfans her face as it screams in her voice.
She doesn’t try to use her voice again. It grins,hundreds of needles crushing against each
other and stabbing into its own gums. Its blood dripsover its lips andplop-plop-plopson her
chest. In the midst of her terror, she wonders, doesn’tit hurt? The creature’s grin falls, and a long
sharp tongue darts out to lick the blood off its lips.For seconds that feel like hours they look at
each other. It pulls back, neck cracking back intoplace as it shortens to a normal length. The
creature creeps backwards, into the dark corner whereit seems to live. When it’s back in its
perch, it nods its head, so slow it’s almost imperceptible.
She falls back into unconsciousness.
The next day she meets her mother for lunch and meds.