Mama forgot to explain periods to me.
The first time I got my period I was thirteen.
All the information I had about periods was from my friends.
That day I broke down and cried.
I wasn’t sure if I’d gotten my period,
Or if I’d hurt myself using the bidet.
But when it lasted for 5 days,
I became certain and relieved.
Mama only found out maybe five months later,
When she saw traces of period stains,
On a piece of fabric that I’d washed and hung to dry.
But even then,
She still didn’t explain anything to me.