You've seen
His other
Faces:
Dark-haired
Beautiful
Boy,
Red-eyed
Snarling
Demon,
But this
You've
Never
Seen:
Up to
His waist
In the river,
Washing
His hands,
Over
And over,
Staring at
His claws,
Which glitter
In the
Noonday
Sun-
Ordering
You to
Go away-
Fear
Naked
In his voice,
Drowning
Out the anger,
Even as
He scours
His hands
With sand
From the
Riverbed-
So out of
Control,
So frightened…
Finally he
Wades
To the shore,
Pushing
You aside,
Sitting,
Staring at
His claws,
Which glitter
In the
Noonday
Sun-
You want
To say
Something,
Anything-
To banish
That look
Self-terror
From his face-
As he hunches
There,
A pool of
Scarlet silver
On the ground,
Staring at
His claws,
Which glitter
In the
Noonday sun…
Despite his
Snarls,
You embrace
Him from
Behind,
Your face
Against his,
He stinks of
Blood
And sweat
And fear,
His clothes
Are soaked
From the river,
But you don't
Care,
He stiffens
At your touch,
Heartbeat
Shaking you
Both-
A fine
Tremor in
Counterpoint-
He pulls
Away-
You persist,
Accepting
The monster,
Until his
Breathing
Slows
As he
Finally
Leans
Against you,
Clawed hand
Clutching yours
With bruising
Force,
Exhausted,
Frightened-
The two of you
Sit in
Silence
As the river
Flows noisily
Past.