he had the knife at her throat
he had the knife at her throat
and i thought we were both
going to die
i was on the floor in the living room
he had knocked me down
with a straight right
and then put the boots to me
i came to looking at his feet
he was standing over her
with her doggie style on the kitchen floor
he was straddling her back
with the large carving knife
sharp edge up
against the soft underside
of her throat
time stopped
reversed itself
did cartwheels in slow motion
as i cartoon jacked myself
to my feet
as he looked into my eyes
as she screamed
as he raised the blade
towards me
as i ran
as she cried
as he looked at the weapon
in his hands
with both concern and horror
as i jumped
as he dropped the knife
to the counter
and caught me
on the side of my head
with his fist
i woke up
to the sight
of her ankles
being dragged out the door
her scream
scratching
at my blurred vision
later
her safety assured
the police gone
an ice bag on my broken nose
i packed my small bag
full of cold beer
and a change of clothes
i got a cab
escaped with my life
on the train
one beer in my left hand for drinking
another in my right
held against my swollen face
to keep my eyes from closing
i remembered those seconds
how time stopped
completely
and i thought
that this is death
this is my end
and was astonished
to find no fear
but only dumb incredulity
the fear came later
as the miles clackaty-clacked
beneath me
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