-After Nettie Farris

He saw his mother, his sister,
himself in my eyes.

The realization that he was going
to take a life if he didn’t. 

A quick kick to his groin.

He wanted me gasping for air, 
so I wouldn’t fight back when
he blacked my eye.

My futile scrabbling of hands
trying to unlock his.

My daughter made a noise
across the room.

He didn’t want to rape a corpse.
He has standards.

My heart stopped.

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