the dislocated finger

she tripped

coming

down the stairs in her

come hither

high heels, wearing

a black teddy

from Trousseau's

in Georgetown.

tonight was supposed

to be the night

after nine months

of dating. but

she dislocated her finger

on the rail.

game over.

i ran her over to G.W.

emergency

room,

where the doctor

interrogated me,

asking

if i'd ever hit my girlfriend

or pushed her

down the stairs.

no, i said.

but he didn't believe me,

and gave

me a long cold

stare.

maybe next year.