tile flooring, safe. after steel toes dug into spine, for the last time. torn skin, shattered bone, bleeding trembling bathing in gun powder. sirens call for girl: run no more. colder pause to ponder the worth of this moment...burning freedom, like every cigarette in flesh and every morning after.

used to hear his
baby, baby, baby,
last time i swear
i love you,
babies

nod and slowly crawl to the bedroom, crying soul to sleep: shallow sleep. shallow breathing, not to disturb the wretched monster behind his eyes..."girl, get out," every day. nights under his dead weight arm, holding face together in quivering palms.

a smile died
with the first
wilted rose bouquet
don't feel much
anymore
not the iron fists
clinched in hair
his "where's my dinner,
bitch" greetings
tiptoes in the kitchen
past NBA, NFL, and
everything better
than me.

indestructable cocky grin, "where's the power in your punch girl? hit me one more time." stupid laugh: ugly laugh.

and this time
i'm gonna kill you
girl,
laugh
stone hard
laugh
yeah, run bitch,
run...

sinister silver barrel laughing in face. bullet to freedom, bullet to freedom, one bullet...knuckles scrape nectar from her cheeks, begging: he's still laughing.

our father
who art in heaven
where are my angels
now?

struggle with the beast, fear tastes the air for blood before the safety unhooks in silence. "god give me wings" shouts the bullet, last ticket to free. red staining kitchen floor with three years imperfection, silently.

his voice cracks:
baby, baby, baby,
didn't mean to
didn't want to
didn't have to

beggars eyes turn inside, last wheezing breath filling the stale air with nothing. girl collapses to the floor, pulling legs into self: sirens attempt to steal her freedom with swirling lights illuminating her lips curling into a resurrected smile.

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©Denise Angela Celeste