Counselor

I woke up suddenly as a
shadow of Whitney blocked
the sun.
I had been sleeping
on the job,
on a towel,
on the shore of Lake Hartwell,
my pale legs exposed
for the first time that summer.
Whitney stood above me,
lake water dripping
from her hair
onto my towel
and my sneakers,
as she turned, displaying
shoulder blades splotched
pink and brown
by sunburn and neglect.
"It hurts,"
she lisped through
missing front teeth.
I told her to sit down,
and helped her smear
sunscreen oh her
skinny back, hoping
I wouldn't get fired
for touching her.