Grenade

She screams, "How do I deal with the guilt? Because it wasn't just me, you asshole!  Why should I shoulder the blame alone?  It's your fucking fault too.  I may have place the grenade in between us, but you pulled the pin and held me hostage as it blew.  Shattering us to the four corners." Her chest heaves and she retreats into herself, tired of how the pain of the past insists on creeping into the present, ruining any thoughts of the future. Then her mind, always finding the insane, muses at the ridiculousness of fighting in a bathroom.  She still couldn't believe that the rat bastard made another key and let himself in like he was a palace lord.

He looks at her, calculating the risk of pushing her further. The hole in his heart is cold and yet, he is hard, wanting her.  But she must be disciplined first.

"You are wrong, Reyna.  We could have gone on this way forever.  What can't you ever be happy with what you have? It's obvious you are cheating on me.  I saw the texts from all those men. I know you have a dating profile..." 

She interrupts his irrelevant accusations with her own.  "Shut up, Joshua.  I caught you on foreign dating sites.  I've caught you with other women! Red-fucking handed! I retaliated by breaking up with you!  Remember that?  Then I started dating.  You know it, you god damn hypocrite."

He continues on as if she hasn't spoken.  "I've decided I don't care about you anymore.  I'm returning to my wife.  I think I'll work it out with her."

Bitterly laughing, "Work it out with her?  WORK IT OUT WITH HER?  AGAIN? I can't believe what a sham your 20 year marriage is!  I can't believe that she'd fucking take you back, again!  How many women have you cheated on her with?  HOW FUCKING MANY?"  She's screaming again.  She can't believe that she was so stupid so fall for such a slick player.  So trusting, too trusting, everyone warned her of being so gullible.  He was a light at the end of a dark tunnel.  It turns out it was the flames of hell on the other side. "We have not been together for months, you fucking idiot! Work it out with whoever is stupid enough to believe you.  You'll probably have to go for someone 20 years younger instead of just 15." She snarls sarcastically.

"Reyna, I am warning you to watch your tone."  He advances towards her.  His hand up to smack her face.  Her glare makes him pause.  He stands still and waits for another outburst.

She remembers when she was in such shock. She found the pictures on his new camera of his ex-wife.  He claimed that he had an out of town business trip.  He was gone for over a week.  He texted her every morning and he called her every night.  He was so good, so goddamn good!  She went over to his place to feed his pets and water the plants.  Then noticed some documents sticking out of the filing cabinet.  She felt the ground disappear under her feet when she found the divorce papers unfiled.  Shame seared her soul.  Everyone knew, everyone knew way before she did. She wanted to throw up, thinking that she slept with him while he was sleeping with her. Thinking that he was on his way to marrying her. Bigamy, she would have been with a bigamist! That made her giggle hysterically.  Even when her memories reminded her how he had spanked her violently with a belt for daring to touch his papers.

He raises a superior black, bushy eyebrow.  "Oh the nerve!" she hisses.

He calmly tells her, "You know you're my first full-blown affair.  Please stop cussing or I will not talk to you.  We need to have an adult conversation." He reaches out to caress her and pull her in.  Repulsion propels her backwards.

Oh my god!  He did not really fucking say that!  She turns away and looks her naked body over in the mirror.  The gym was definitely paying off.  A smile spreads across her face.  It'll be okay.  Grabbing the eye drops, she gets rid of the red.  She's going out tonight.  She knows exactly what dress and killer heels. He doesn't like her sudden silent departure.

"I did not dismiss you." He grabs her and spins her around, keeping her from getting to the closet. He feels his control slipping. The spell that once bound her to him is gone.  He wants to eat his cake and still have it, too.  She shoves him off.  He grabs her wet hair and yanks her down, slamming her head onto the bathroom tile. Stunned, she moans.  His hands move around her neck, squeezing slowly, his eyes, killer ice.  Fear snakes around her heart and instinct takes over.  She knees him in the groin, forcing his head to slam into the cabinets.  Surprised he lets go.  She shoves him off and runs out of the master bedroom.  She reaches for the front door.  He's too quick, grabs her again, spinning her around by the shoulders and begins shouting while violently shaking her. 

"You ungrateful whore.  I took you from nothing.  I built you up. I lavish you with gifts. I take care of you, keep you healthy and beautiful..."  His voice went on and on.  Her head and neck hurt badly.  At least in his tirade he stopped shaking her and his grip is loosening.  Remember self-defense class.  She goes limp, takes advantage of his confusion, darts out from under his arms and runs to the backdoor, screaming for help.

He catches her again.  Hauls her over to the kitchen table, throws her down.  Sobs take over, as she hears him pull off his belt and begins beating her.  She can feel his hard-on and knows what's next.
"Please Joshua, not there, please..."

"Oh now you're remembering your place?"  He pushes against her, but doesn't enter.

"Yes, Joshua, I'm sorry, so very, very, sorry."  He backs up and brings the metal end down. 

"Reyna, you disgust me." 

The door bell rings.  He pauses, sure of his control.  "Reyna, go answer the door."

She grabs a blanket and wraps it around her.  She keeps her head down, submissive. 

"Reyna, do not disobey me. You know the routine."  Her shoulders hunch in response.

Opening the door there is a cop.  She mumbles the usual answers to all his concerned questions. It's obvious he doesn't believe her. He sees the freshly dried blood on her face, the fingerprints on her shoulders. The cop gently lifts her face, stares into her eyes and asks.  "Is he still here?"  Startled she answers, "Yes."  He pushes his way into the house, gun drawn, ready to set fire to the slippery slopes of domestic violence.  The suspect tries to run.  The cop chases and shoots him in the leg.  She watches and smiles. "Thank you, justice."

Rival

Stomach in knots
Hard to know what you're
really going to do
Unlike me, you're the master
of poker
and feigned indifference
Everyone knows my hand
and that my heart is always
on my sleeve
Sometimes I can't tell
if you really love me
Yet, here you are
ready to defend me
against the one
that years ago threw my heart
into the desert sand, willing it
to die
Surprised that the burning sun
gave me renewed life
Now he's just
wounded my womanly pride
trying to steal from me
yet again, my identity,
Threatening the love
my children have for me
he prefers me
in a state
of invalidation
His jealousy, his anger
that I found myself
and that you acutally see me
knowing that I don't need you
I simply want you
kills him
Yet what I sense in you
frightens me
because in his gamble to wound me
he attacked you, knives in your back
gun under the table
your ego suffers
How far will you go
to punish he, who is no one's
rival?

At the Bottom of The Stairs

You left me at the bottom
of the stairs
You said you don't love me
any more
Then you
gently
closed
the
door

Chorus:
Well, let me tell you
something
I know I'm worth more than
nothing
and if you can't realize that
then someone else will

I stood there
so stunned
Could not believe
you didn't think
I was the one
Now my heart is breakin'
knowin'
I'm forsaken

Chorus:

I turned to walk away
tears fallin' down my face
prayin'
that I can live
in grace
I know
it might take months
but I will get over you
and when I do
that's when you know
you should've
never
let
me
go

Chorus:

Now you finally
realize
that you did me
wrong
you want me back, baby
but I have
moved on
Please come back up the stairs,
you beg, no dignity
No thanks, I'll stay at the bottom
it's where new love discovered me

Chorus: