My Brother’s Engagement

my brother’s engagement is my first tattoo
18 years old
driving home from college
early morning hours
crashing on my parents' sloping
living room couch
awaiting mom’s chemo results
dad sees the tramp stamp
symbol in the space between my
shirt and the waistband of my
flannel pajama pants

I hope that’s temporary
he says
and intakes his morning potassium
glass of orange juice
conservative news

my brother’s engagement is my sister’s sexual assault
16 years old
walking to her car in an alley
early morning hours
disappearing into my parents' blind eye
her quiet bedroom floor
awaiting a holy period
because what were you wearing
why were you walking downtown
shirt untucked and coat undone
icy winter down unzipped pants