My Boyish Shadow
Walking down the street, the girl saw her shadow stretching out on the ground in front. The sun behind her was strong, making the outline her body projected sharp and solid. Her short hair let her see the shape of her ears on the paving stones, giving an oddly boyish impression.
The girl’s body was clearly female, yet it made the shadow of a boy. She didn’t like this shadow, so walked quickly home and went indoors, out of the light. There she stayed, avoiding the sight of her shadow. But as the weeks went on, her body became more and more pale until it was barely perceivable. And the paler she became, the more her shadow stood out. So she emerged into the summer and lay down on the pavement, the sun and sweat pouring over her. And her shadow became a place to rest her body, almost hidden from everyone else, but separating her from the hard, searing pavement.