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By Brian Rosenberger
Artwork by Carole Humphreys
Waiting for the
footsteps
dreading them
fear fills you
fear of the footsteps
and what follows
shadows, not your
only company
not for long
you're not that lucky
that first day, hearing
the voice you've
come to loath
an infection in your ears
this is your
new home kitty
here's your food
water when you
get thirsty
ah, don't be scared
you'll see
it'll be okay
don't worry little kitty
I'll take good
care of you
at first
you liked
the attention, the tenderness,
the affection
the voice offered
things changed
an accident
not something planned
an unfortunate result
of too much momentum
resulting in a glass
turned to shards
quickly followed by
blows
hard enough to
erase the vision
from your eyes
too fast to avoid
now falling with
such frequency
they're expected
and the yelling
the constant yelling
GOD DAMN, LOOK WHAT YOU DID
YOU STUPID FUCKING BITCH
WHY CAN'T YOU BEHAVE
DAMN THING
WORSE THAN A CAT
clump
clump
clump
the door creaks
like bones grinding together
light spills into the closet
kitty, I'm home
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