Sufferer

she waits, she waits, she waits for him

all night

no notice of arrival, yet

she still waits

her body imprisoned on the brittle oak chair

her forehead creased with fear

she passes the time counting the crumbs on the floor

counting and counting till her eyes grew

stiff

their rapid radical movements scanning 

the rough smudged surface

counting and counting till she got lost in the numbers

her hatred for him weaker than her cowardliness

she flinches when she hears him

his boots a faint tap

each tap speeds her breathing

each tap grows louder

the door opens and her freedom slams shut

she stopped counting the crumbs

now she counts his punches

his kicks

his words, his insults

she gets up from the brittle oak chair

and looks him in the eye

her swollen face swallowing her tears

she starts to scream

for she is done fearing the tapping

and he silences her with one swift blow