HOPEFUL
Joe strips his first-date clothes.
Mouth open, he pulls down his tongue, unzips his skin suit, head to crotch.
He reaches inside and pulls out his heart. The heart looks like china—shattered, then glued back together. More than once.
Joe sheds the skin. A young man emerges, heart intact.
—
Originally appeared in 50-Word Stories, December 13, 2017. Chosen as story of the week, December 17, 2017.
