Dead Turtles

By Ruhina Taskin

 

Today I cried remembering our dead turtles
Rafael and Leonardo, I named them
After the painters, I used to say

 

I took a screenshot and sent to you
Messages unseen
Calls going straight to voicemail
Emails unanswered

 

Silence makes me want to slit my wrist
Place it on my plushies
And see how the Olaf turns into red

 

Silence makes me want to take the last bus alone
Hoping that it won’t hurt much
While they cut me open with a blunt blade

 

Silence makes me want to tie the perfect knot
Wondering if the ceiling fan can take my weight
Too mainstream, this should be my last resort

 

What went wrong
A friend asked
I wish I could tell the truth
You are mad because our turtles died

You believed they can live for hundred years
Yet I managed to kill them in just five

 

Ruhina Taskin from Bangladesh has worked in both communications and journalism for more than five years. She has a Master's degree in Human Rights from Goldsmiths, University of London and is now based in Toronto