middle finger

i tore away the skin.
i ripped and pulled
over and over
until it was all gone
and clean
and sterile.
i couldn't feel a thing
and i don't know why
but it encouraged me
to dig further.
the top skin was no good.
it was crusty
dry
old.
it was puffy in a way that made me think
that something was wrong with it
and that i could dig out some infection
or something.
now it is pink and new,
fresh and smooth.
now it will become hard
and with some time
it might not sting anymore.