I would write more, but…

image: wallpurple.com

I would write more

But I search for the one, true first sentence

And scratch through it in my head

Before typing a word

When I begin

I tweak as I go

Bit by bit

Word by word

Until I’ve killed what

I want to say

I consider what I’ve done and

You moan

Coalescing in my screen

Peering between dead words

A ghost among tombstones

Full of rage

Elbowing letters

Grasping

Fingernails scratch against glass

Fists pound

Our mouths open to scream

I switch off the screen

It flickers to black

But your hand

Settles on my shoulder

I lay my hand on yours

And tell you I’m sorry

And that I loved you

Your fingers collapse

In a cloud of dust

Your ring clatters on the hardwood floor

Accelerates as it twirls to a stop

I push back my chair

Skid down the basement stairs

Whisk the blankets off the axe

Drop it in the wash basin

And scrub it clean

Again

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