Compliance

She started to say open

and my jaw was already down.

Trapdoor. Light poured in

the way it does when you're being searched.

I don't obey that fast

for anyone. Boss. Partner.

My own name yelled

across a parking lot. Nothing.

But the hygienist starts the syllable

and I'm a hinge.

All day I walked around

with that. How easy

I am, given the right command.