Fingertips and Palms by Olivia Griek
I had always recoiled from it, not concerned for my discomfort but theirs. I feared the day that I allowed fingertips to linger and then watched as they withdrew, like they had touched a live wire.
Once, when I slept, a hand sat flat against my back. It didn’t flinch, it lingered. Slowly, it pressed through my skin. In my slumber, I could feel its comfort. It was warm, gentle. Fear drained like water from a bath.
When I awoke, it was gone, and it had hollowed out my chest.
Olivia Griek is a writer and teacher living on Wurundjeri land in Melbourne, Victoria. Her passion for storytelling extends into all facets of her life, whether it be through her writing, teaching, or in conversation, she is always sharing a story. Her work regularly explores themes of gender, sex, and social otherness through narrative, poetry, and personal essays.