Maddie Knickel | + Follow Poet |
ABC | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

Book

……

     Searing pain shot through 
my body like a wave of heat. I 
raised my arm to feel my 
cheek, but he grabbed my 
wrist, forcing it back to my 
side. A small whimper escaped 
my lips. 
     "Shut up!" he growled 
slapping me so hard that I 
could hear the clap of his scaly, 
calloused skin on my cheek.  
My body was overcome by 
shock and I cowered down into 
the corner, giving him even 
more of an unfair advantage. I 
ran my back down the wall and 
squealed in pain as a rusty nail 
drew a long bloody line from 
my shoulder blades to the 
bottom of my abdomen. 
     "I said shut up!" he snapped 
as he jabbed me in the side 
with his leather hunting boot.  I 
screamed, I couldn't help it. I 
converted to the fetal position 
terrified of what my outburst 
had cost me. To my sunrise, I 
heard him mumble something 
under his breath and shuffle to 
the other side of the room. I 
peeked through the gap in my 
forearms. He was sifting 
through the closet. He snatched 
his black, leather jacket off the 
hanger and forced it over his 
broad shoulders. He then 
reached to the top shelf of the 
closet and grabbed a burgundy 
red box, our emergency safe. 
He spun the dial and it clicked 
open. He shoved all the money 
into his pockets and reached 
back in for our small .22 caliber 
pistol. (****, I forgot we had 
that.) I was stricken with panic, 
wondering what he planned to 
do with it. He tucked the gun in 
the back of his pants and pulled 
his shirt over it. He approached 
me again but only stood there 
and glared at me. I retuned the 
gaze. His face was concealed 
by a film of sweat and his 
short, dark brown hair 
smoothed back by mousse. His 
soft eyes were clouded by 
anger and pain. He was an 
attractive man, and I loved 
him. 
      I tried to stand,  but I 
became dizzy and collapsed 
back to the floor. 
     "Psssh, weak *****," he 
snarled. He took one last 
agonizing glare at me and 
headed for the door. I 
swallowed and attempted to 
stand once more. I firmly 
pressed my hands to the wall, 
pushing, forcing myself up. I 
swallowed again, attempting to 
moisten my throat, but my 
mouth was too dry and 
chapped from my painful 
screams. 
     "David, wait. I love you. 
Wait, please," my throat 
burned as I forced out the plea. 
The screen door creaked as he 
jerked it open. He stepped out, 
not even bothering to look back 
at me. I cringed as the door 
slammed, leaving my ears 
ringing. 

* * * * *

Copyright © Maddie Knickel | Year Posted 2013

Please Login to post a comment