she called at midnight as mad max hung from his wrists by cuffs on the winch over the thirsty villagers
he went too far this time
she didn’t have to say more, i was dressed and driving and furious
it’s over, i am done, but i worry he will be back
her face a mass of bruises and swelling, she took the pills and went to bed while i sat vigil on the couch
it was nearly four when the rattle of keys in a lock reached my ears
i walked to doorway and stood, shaking with rage, chemicals that feel so normal even after being buried for so long, this part i had left behind now needed again
he saw me and froze
i don’t know what she said
his head snapped back, no more excuses
he held up his hands hoping for mercy
all i could see was her bruises, from this time, the last time, the time before that
would she take him back again, probably
would he ever be able to look at me again
i hope not, at least not without a trickle of piss and the unspoken promise i would gladly spend the weekend in jail
it was four fifteen before i was finished, four thirty before i had his key to the apartment, four forty five before i had left a note saying everything was going to be okay five thirty before i was in my bed
now i have woken, showered and sit still shaking, her text with two simple words
thank you
then the one we both figured to be a lie
it’ll never happen again, i am sorry
if i scrolled up, i would likely see nearly the same thing again, verbatim
i am tired, my knuckles are sore
and i can already feel the cycle beginning again