The Hate that Loves

Once upon a time, Beauty met Beast.

It started out nice.

He was a gentleman in the streets and a beast in the sheets.

A month went by, then two, then three.

How do you deal when the beast leaves the sheets?

When the beast enters the streets.

How do you escape when your friends only see the mask?

When his angelic light hides the shadows and bruises,

Blotches of hate etched into your skin.

The hate becomes a part of you.

Leaves him,

Enters you.

Corrupts your skin and blood and bones.

There is no manhunt for this beast.

Not this time.

There is only the slow death of a beauty who fades into a shadow into a corner of the world.

There is only the man who put her there.

Her jailer,

Keeper,

Punisher.

DIE, he screams.

I love you, he means.

Just Die, he says.

Come back to me, he begs.

You are nothing but a sack of shattered bones and organs.

A lonely heart beating for two.

But it's okay.

Because I love you.