kill your darlings

I killed a baby rabbit when I was fourteen—

I was only trying to feed it,

but I squeezed the tiny bottle too hard

and the formula began to bubble up and out of its nose.

Its eyes weren’t even open yet.

I cried, horrified, helplessly holding it as it convulsed until

its velvet body grew stiff and cold in my palms.

I wish I knew exactly what I did wrong

because I keep doing the same thing

but with people.