HOLLOW.

staring at the ceiling from her spot on the floor, she wasn't doing the exercise the rest of the class was immersed in. she tried to close her eyes to block the light out, but it pelted her lids like heavy rain.

she opened them and stared fixedly at the ceiling wishing she could turn over to lie on her stomach. "allow the words to fill you, to speak through you," the teacher was saying. she rolled her eyes, of course the words had to speak through you. they couldn't very well talk all on their lonesome.

she sighed.

"everyone say it, 'hollow,'" the teacher instructed.

she blinked. this was a good word. "hollow," she whispered. "hollow."

"good, now go back to your own speeches." the class was filled again with various words and shouts, but she lay still, staring up.

"hollow," she said again. "hollow."

[12.1.09]