(anonymous)

he says
hey, baby
where you going?

she walks faster
she hopes he'll leave her alone

he says
baby,
come back

she tries not to think it
her mind screams 'rapist'
her mind yells 'murderer'

he stands
says
hey,
he walks forward

she runs
too petrified to look behind her

their footsteps echo in the street
his pounding, flatfooted
hers clacking, high-heeled

she sees the light of the main street
hope explodes in her chest
she's almost free

his hand closes on her arm, clamps on her elbow
the other moves and covers her mouth
he knocks her head on the brick wall

she's being dragged
her head is throbbing
her mind screams
'you're going to die.'