my mother always thought I would be a fool. did too in earlier years sounding like an imposter to own self talking different accent of dialect every time spoke aloud because was unsure what voice was. didn't know exactly how looked felt as though looked nothing and no one but at the same everyone amalgation person on planet earth layered onto another compressed down into figure little black girl. fall asleep weather-beaten dog his owner's porch mother's salon drowsiness from afternoon sun making me sweat while slept. In that sleep dreamt dreams so real remember them physical actual memories standing front television Nick Junior played realizing mushrooms had grown side sharp pain emerging where it stretched skin upward perfect chocolate-colored silhouette bushel mushroom right side. this is dream both perspective also panicked feeling impossible girl young running back with womanly legs grabbing scissors cutting off for abyss steam left behind revealing pink matter flesh.