Sufferer
she waits, she waits, she waits for him
all night
no notice of arrival, yet
she still waits
her body imprisoned on the brittle oak chair
her forehead creased with fear
she passes the time counting the crumbs on the floor
counting and counting till her eyes grew
stiff
their rapid radical movements scanning
the rough smudged surface
counting and counting till she got lost in the numbers
her hatred for him weaker than her cowardliness
she flinches when she hears him
his boots a faint tap
each tap speeds her breathing
each tap grows louder
the door opens and her freedom slams shut
she stopped counting the crumbs
now she counts his punches
his kicks
his words, his insults
she gets up from the brittle oak chair
and looks him in the eye
her swollen face swallowing her tears
she starts to scream
for she is done fearing the tapping
and he silences her with one swift blow