I remember being about 8 years old, probably still holding onto puppy chubbiness . Mum was trying to put some second hand navy cord trouser on me.
the zip was quite stiff – juddering and sticking as mum tried to zip them up on me
the zip loosens, but the motion of pulling it up with a desperate last hoik makes the zip speed up with no control. It catches on my skin taking my flesh with it
the blood oozes, the pain memorable
the only way to remove them was to retrace that zip’s journey
I remember the look of horror on her guilty face