things my mother will leave behind

Mars Russell

to accident #1:

 half an ounce of cocaine on the plate she inherited from her mother

 a collection of Cow Tale cups that store lost potential in the form of art supplies

 the text conversations reminding you of the rot in your blood

to the favorite child:

 binders full of trading cards to maintain the childlike wonder she coveted in you

 a father who left to make a better version of you with another woman

 the phone number to her top drug dealer who you call your aunt

to her last victim:

 seven cartons of frozen Newports to start the cycle early

 a shrine to accident #1 to remind you of your inadequacies every day

 the man who made you a woman far sooner than you should have been