Fasten

The room is too quiet for this.

I pull the black strap across my skin

and the sound is a sudden, violent tear.

Plastic hooks surrendering their hold

on the matted grey forest of the loops.

It sounds like a secret being pulled out by the root.

I press it down again,

locking the hinge against the bone,

but the edges are frayed with old lint.

The bite is getting tired.