6after all of that
three scars
that don't even
really count
since one of them
is covered
by your shirt
and the others
are small
and will fade
with time
your hair's starting
to grow back
as well as
your eyelashes
and you can already see
the shape of your eyebrows
even though
they still have to grow in
too
so no one
will ever have to know
about any of this
unless you want them to
unless you want them to know
about the lance armstrong thing
about how many times
you were carted
to the emergency room
generally in an ambulance
or about
how you could find your way
around
rainbow babies' and children's hospital
blindfolded
or on the other hand
about how you
made the all-A honor roll
(one out of five
eighth-grade students)
even though
you missed an average
of two days per week
because of chemo
or side effects
or a lovely ride
to the ER
or about
that one time
you threw up
in sixth period math
and your friend didn't care
even though
you're pretty sure
you'd be grossed out
if you were her
and called you later
at the hospital
and stayed on the phone
for two hours straight
even though
it was long distance
and you didn't say
one word
after all of that
after the whole
lance armstrong thing
only three scars
that don't even
really count
are left