Period cramps. 

 
she wakes up at 1am 
flipping like a dolphin 
exiting the white  
of a bay. doubled  
over, creasing; a book 
bought second-hand, 
and screaming so loudly 
she rattles dead flies  
from the windowsill. 

I snooze over sideways 
in my wine-tired slumber 
and quietly mumble 
"you awake? 
are you ok?"