​Best Buy
from When a Lion is Chasing You, a collection of poetry 

​In the Mission a woman
young, somewhere between 19 and 24
crosses the street, stops halfway
Confusion sweeps her pallid face
she turns back, turns again
makes it all the way over
 
She wears the prettiest white party dress
hanging lopsided
stiff, clean, like she went out to a party the night before
a naked body beneath, feet bare
the only color a red splash of pimples across her face
 
She emerges from a parking lot
outside a Best Buy, herself looking not a best buy,
like she got raped and thrown out of a car
or back alley maybe
 
Stumbling unsteadily, she continues up the street
Do you need help? I call out the car window
She darts a disdainful glance, waves me away
the flap of her hand drugged-annoyed
face dazed and angry
not a you’re-ruining-my-high
but a where-am-I
 
Her stride is quick, fierce
She’s on a mission in the Mission
going somewhere even if it’s
nowhere