Reassurance

I want him to at least pretend.

Y'know, to give me that smile
without the threat,

the embrace without
the backhand

the caress without
the choke.

But I'm slowly learning to

deal

with it all.

At least I always know
that with the

screaming

I'll never have to endure silence.

It's just his way of
taking care of me.

A bruise has never been more meaningful.

He does it to help me, I just know it.
To make me better than I was before.
Scar tissue is stronger than skin.

He does it to make me his, that's it.
It's his way of...what's the term...

asserting his authority.

The barrel of a gun
has never tasted sweeter
than when it's in his hands.