‘‘I was always skating on wet glass.
Always had this anxiety.
Tension to never be able to relax,
Never knew from moment to
moment what was the rule.
I have been balancing
on a tightrope in this home.
Sure I wanted to take the reins.
End it myself.
But I couldn’t face the thought
that I would be spared,
but the little ones left behind.”

In intimate partner violence
the head,
neck,
and face.
Are the most commonly injured body parts
with most occurring
on the left side of the face
as 90% of the population
is right-handed.

Strangulation is of specific note,
as it induces behavioral and emotional reactions
which in turn facilitate coercive control
via fear, inability to effectively resist,
and prostrated trust.

Consciousness can be removed in seconds,
brain death administered in minutes.
Even weeks afterwards, the risk of
carotid artery dissection,
stroke,
and seizures
persists.

Even stable appearing survivors
free from obvious marks
are not free of morbidity
due to the abundance of internal injuries.

Oftentimes without
subsequent violence
an abusive partner can forever exert
and maintain control.

An unfiltered pretension and paranoia,
reeking like empty coffee pots
on hot burners,
smoldering in humiliation
of a night
that will never dawn.