The zipper on my bag is losing its skin

The zipper on my bag is losing its skin.

I noticed it today at the light,

the way the silver finish flaked off

to reveal the dull gray in plain sight.

It’s just nickel underneath,

a cheap metal that smells like a coin.

It leaves a scent on my fingers

where the teeth and the fabric join.

Everything is plated in something else,

a thin wash of being okay,

until you use it enough times

for the shine to just rub away.