Find the bathroom door that locks.

(After he leans in

and asks to buy you a drink

after the blood has swelled

to the surface

where his teeth met your flesh

wait until he turns his back

to dissolve into the crowd

and fall in with the shadows.

Match your footsteps

with the thumping pulse of the music.)

Clean yourself up.

(Splash water on your face

and wash his whisky-sour breath

off your skin.

Press the paper towel to your wound

to soak up the blood.

Try to forget the feeling

of his claws snagging in your hair.

When a warm clot

rises in your throat

expel it immediately.)

Find a weapon.

(Don’t be reckless—

take your jacket

and wrap it around your fist.

Use the screams bellowing

from the dancefloor

to cover the sound

of the mirror shattering.

Snag a jagged shard

careful to calm your trembling

so you don’t pierce your own flesh.

Aim your weapon at the door

when the handle rattles.)

Summon the animal rage in your bones.

(You already know how to do that

don’t you?)