

starving.frantic, she packs. shoving all she can into her bags. something breaks. it's glass, blood drips from her hand. tears slide down her hot cheeks. she pushes them away. pushes him away. he's crying, yelling, in the way. she slides past him. dodging his questions, his looks, his accusations. no apologies. not this time. she looks around the room, desperate, clutches her last bag. he blocks the door and begins to beg. she turns away, having heard it all before. not again. she wont let him crush her, keep her here, hold her back any longer. she begins to scream. tastes the salt now flooding down. her fingers curl up. in this moment the ragestarving.


alone.the snow begins to fall. and she waits.. but doesnt know what shes been expecting. a surprise? a change? anything new. smoke fills her lungs but brings no warmth. her eyes scan the streets, searching for his headlights. nothing. weary, anxious, she lights another. could he be planning? she forgets the thought as soon as it arises. her heart pounds at the sight of his car. she stands, stumbles, runs for him. her wishes become a reality. she opens the door.. for nothing. her hope shatters. he mumbles an excuse. feet drag up the stairs, constantly counting to ten. repeating the names in her mind. he is the tenth. an even number. butalone.


fall.the temperature is dropping. just like her hope. surviving becomes a daily chore.fall.
hungry, tired, hurt. rummaging for anything better. hood up against the cold, stumbling through the streets, she needs a hand to hold, a path to follow, something to light the way.
smoke and stiff drinks are a dead end. awake until sunrise, she cant help but cry..