All Except
She closes her eyes
Imagining a place where only goodness and light exist
She takes the pain that’s binding her
And transforms it into love
Because she loves him
She takes the beatings
But in her mind
She imagines him
She imagines every touch he gives her
Only being of love and warmth
She sees the good within him
Even when all there is
Is anger
She turns the smell of drugs and liquor on his breath
Into roses and sweet honey dew
She covers up her pain
To show him love and understanding
Even though all she gets in return
Is ridicule and oppression
She sits alone
Wondering why this is happening
Realizing no matter how much she loves him
He will never love her as much
She packs her bags as full as she can
And waits until the drinks put him to sleep
But instead of passing out
His drunken mind turns to rage
He sees the bags next to the door
And yells a cry of pure outrage
Her heart is racing
Her mind is scattered
She is deeply afraid
She locks her door and hides behind a dresser
He bangs on the door
He pounds the door until it falls from its hinges
Tears filled her eyes
She pleaded for him to calm down
She begged for him to let her go
But he refuses
All he sees is red anger
He begins to bludgeon her
Kick her
Degrade her
She tries to fight him off
But he over powers her
She tries to get up and run
She fights back
Except harder than before
She grabs her only defense
A gun
Under the bed next to her pool of blood
She reaches with what little strength she has left
She fills her hand
And silence floods the room
All except for the two shots fired
One on the head
The other in the space where his heart should be
She stands back up
Knowing all that she has ever loved is gone
Then she walks away covered in blood
Thinking all of him is left behind
Until she felt a small flutter in her stomach