POEM — To Breathe

She began to breathe deliberately in an attempt to exert some control

She began to breathe deliberately in an attempt to exert some control

She began to breathe deliberately in an attempt to exert some control

she paced the kitchen, walking around the table bumping her hip against the back of the chairs. The skin became irritated. She made some coffee, adding an extra tablespoon of the grind and a dash of cinnamon. she began to pace again. The coffee maker was noisy, made an unnerving gurgling sound. Familiar, comforting smells began to permeate the room

She began to breathe deliberately in an attempt to exert some control

she paused by the pot to breathe in the bitter oily scent and capture the sweet hint of spice. As the last few drops strangled out she checked the cupboard spotted the sugar and the fridge where she found the cream. she took them to the counter, she prepped her mug. Strong and sweet, her aspirations. she took her coffee to the backyard. The moon was full, the air was still, the night was silent, the grass was soft, moist, cushioning, cool on her skin. her head was pounding, her breathing

She began to breathe deliberately in an attempt to exert some control

she wasn’t just trying to scare him, it wasn’t just a threat. Her husband slept, she stabbed him in the neck, this woke him up, he wasn’t happy, he made a gurgling sound, she plunged the knife again, this made her happy, he stopped, she stopped, satisfied – not the first time he had satisfied her in this bed.

She began to breathe deliberately in an attempt to exert some control

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