the red box in the corner is called a sharps collector.

when she took my pulse her fingernails left

half moons in my wrist, and then when 

you're getting your blood pressure taken, the point

when it's tightest you don't even know anything's

squeezing, it's only when the blood starts gulping

through your arm that you think release 

and then you are dominated by your choking 

veins and the scrape of velcro coming undone.