Hollow

nine.

UNEDITED - To be fixed at a later date.

*
Limp arms hang from her body like an unnecessary attachment. He doesn't seem to mind. The same lips that have outlined her delicate skin so many times before do so without thought as if second nature. The forced intimacy is only a ten-minute affair but the foreplay lasts for a good twenty, her head spinning with dirty obscenities and physical contact before any tangible pain begins. Psychological pain is lesser than the flesh-like dagger thrust deep inside her feverish body. It never feels good. It never feels right. No tears swim along the pinkish rims of her eyes, just a blank and emotionless stare can be found as she focuses all her attention on the dark ceiling hung above. Her senses are removed from the situation. The sound of his balls hitting in time with his thrusts and the far away drip of the faucet are inaudible to her ears. The unmistakable smell of sweat and sex is lost on her. She doesn't even register the sight of his shadowed face invading her sight. The world is a blur and at that moment, she is lost and can't be found. A darkness so profound has captured her mind and holds her brain for ransom. He pays every time.

*

"Breathe. Slowly, that's it."

Willow didn't know why or how or any linguistics to be honest but here she was. Strong arms held her close and smoke reached her lungs. The cough that ensued was expected but Willow didn't care.

"Beautiful." He pulled her face up in his hands, leaving a rough kiss on her open mouth.

"Luca..." Willow's muffled voice giggled like a school-girl.

Any normal situation, she'd be afraid or begging to leave, but high on pills and weed, she couldn't quite remember why Luca was so bad. She liked sitting between his legs, her back leaning on his uncovered chest, as they sat on his bed. A false sense of security had fallen over her body.

"I'm hungry," Willow admitted with a giggle and a smile on her face.

Luca loved the sight of happiness on her face but a deep emotion resonated where he should have been feeling contentment. He couldn't put a name to the destructive quality, no matter the effort on his part, a piece of him was always missing. He recognized the guilt, the remorse, and sadness but the emptiness was fueled by an unknown entity. He liked the rush of authority over her despite her hesitant trust.

Willow detangled their bodies before hopping to the kitchen with her eyes set on the fridge.

"We should go grocery shopping," She suggested.

The expired milk and odd colored cantaloupe were hardly appetizing, Willow concluded. She was already halfway to the door before Luca had a single shoe on.

"Wait." His voice was met with the slam of the screen door.

Willow skipped all the way to the passenger side of his truck, her hair bouncing in the evening breeze. The setting sun peaked over the trees as Luca lightly ran to catch up with her.

"What took you so long?"

She couldn't help giggling. Being high just had that effect on her. It took her depression and warped her back into the happy-go-lucky girl she once was.

  She slid over the bench seat, leaning close to Luca as he turned on the ignition.

"What do you want to eat?" He asked as he pulled away from his apartment.

He took a quick glance at Willow nestled into his side with a dopey grin on her face that made him smile back.

"Watermelon? No, wait...french fries and some peanut butter! I'm really hungry for gummy worms but that's not substantial enough..." Her enthusiasm had him laughing.