“Three in the Afternoon” by Hannah Sexton

The last time 
you relapsed,
I was painting 
my nails:

Cool Metal #002. 

Your legs trembled under 
the weight of warm liquor.
My hands shook like 
I was nine

again:

Mom 
             the word 
                                 died

in my mouth, 
                               curled
                                                      into a corpse
                               in my throat

Gray dripped
                              on our kitchen table

while you downed

                              whiskey 

                                                     like water and—

I tuck you into bed,
wet nails caught on 
your comforter; clumps
of grey polish sleeping 
beside you.

car keys hidden in 
my childhood dresser
tucked between my Sunday-
bests before 

I drive to work




Hannah Sexton is a senior Psychology student at Kennesaw State University minoring in Professional Writing and Applied Statistics. They are a self-identified poet and an aspiring social worker. Most of their work is focused on generational trauma, mental health, and spirituality. Recently, they attended the Iowa Writers Summer Workshop 2023 and will have work published in Asylum Magazine's Spring Issue in March 2024. In their free time, they like to read books of all genres, crochet, and drink iced coffee.