This poem is about a battered woman dying in the hands of her abuser.

Sitting so still hiding in the dark
I smell his breath that reaked of alcohol
The closer he came towards me the stronger the smell

I closed my eyes and held my breath
as he walked around the dark room
creeping and hunting for his last prey.

I closed my eyes again and prayed that he would go away
When my tears fell to the floor like glass
shattering the stillness of my soul

there for a brief moment i saw his silouette against the moonlight
there he stood with a knife in hand hunting for my soul
he lunged at me as I took my last breath.I fell to the floor

and as every ounce of blood was flowing out of me
i saw the tears in his eyes as he reached out for me saying that he loved me
as I took my last breath

Written by Anita J Riddell