Androidized Heart

After constant abuse lashes, floggings, beatings, immunity sets in. Yes, I see you hitting me but I can’t feel a thing. My mind has gone blank, numb, dead. This constant silence in my head is only broken by silence itself and the beating of my heart. A blow to the face and I fall to the ground. But all I hear is a rhythmic beat within my chest guarded by a cage. I see the blood on the floor, an immense pool that surrounds my limp body. And though everything else has ceased to function, my heart beats on. Thum-thum, thum-thum, thum-thum. No change. No fear, no excitement, just thum-thum, thum-thum, thum-thum. You hover over me and look me in the eyes, and spit in my face, your mucus slimy inching towards gravity and you speak. Your mouth moves but I hear Thum-thum, thum-thum, thum-thum. My insolence is rewarded with a boot to the face, a steel-toed boot. I feel my jaw unhinge but I can’t find the pain. All I can find is the Thum-thum, thum-thum, thum-thum from my heart. You leave and slam the door, every picture falls, shatters. Glass sprays across my face, in my eyes and blood covers my vision. But my heart continues to Thum-thum, thum-thum, thum-thum, thum-thum, thum-thum, thum-thum, thum-thum, thum-thum, thum-thum.