K A L O P S I A

THIRTY

Thinking now 
her short life was to end
the monster stopped choking her

Retreating
he watched as the nightingale
flapped her limbs
gasping for air
colourful bruises forming on the column of her throat
like an opal necklace
the small line of blood
dripping down between her legs

When she had finally stopped wriggling
he pinned her with a glacial stare
she laid back on the pillows
out of breath
body racking with unrealised sobs

"I'm not going to kill you, my darling,"
he stood up
his jeans slinging low
the grey light giving him a ghostly appearance
"Do you not realise how blindingly obvious that is?"

"Even if you do hate me. Despite the fact that you are afraid of me-"
"I'm not-"
he rushed upon her in a flash
she whimpered as he pressed a hand to her mouth
"Shush. Let me finish first, nightingale. Then you can do all the singing you want."

Flattening his hands either side of her
he continued

"As I was saying," he smirked, "I do not care if you do not like me. Even if the very thought of me makes you want to take your own life, I will not let you."
he pressed a stray curl against her temple
she closed her eyes, trying not to shudder

"That's right, my little bird. You can hate me, you can fear me, you may even want to kill me," he gave a short laugh at the very idea.
"But you will never be rid of me. Do you understand? You will never leave me. Never. I shall kill you, by letting you live."