Death Knell – Sarah Doughty

“Then, like a death knell, you arrived.
My monster. In the flesh.”

It was the thump, thump, thumping of your uneven steps, as you made your way in my direction. I knew those footfalls like they were alarm bells going off during a fire drill. They pierced my eardrums like thunder. There was nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide. And there I was, helpless to do anything about it. So I did the only thing I could.

I counted the steps — thump, thump, thump — each one growing louder. Closer. By the time I counted to ten, the night seemed darker. As if the stars closed their eyes and refused to shine. Twenty. With every beat, my heart pounded, pumping battery acid through my veins faster and faster — thump, thump, thump — until the last step. Thirty.

Then, like a death knell, you arrived. Thump. My monster. In the flesh. Darkening my doorway. It was then that my torment would begin.

© Sarah Doughty

 

[Sarah Doughty is the tingling wonder-voice behind Heartstring Eulogies. She’s also the author of The Silence Between Moonbeams, her poetry chapbook, and the acclaimed novels and novellas of the Earthen Witch Universe. Good news, they’re all offered for free, right here! To learn more about how awesome Sarah is, check out her website, stalk her on Goodreads, or both.]

34 thoughts on “Death Knell – Sarah Doughty”

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  9. Sarah, I’m running out of ways to express my love and admiration for you. This piece is a like an icicle prick…but it’s warm, too, because your strength is so beautiful and inspiring. ❤

    Liked by 4 people

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  11. What you described, is simply, awful for anybody to experience, but, unfortunately, things like this is still happening in the world, and, there’s, not much we can do, but to keep our awareness up, and do our best, to stop this sort of abuse from keep happening around us…

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  19. There are things that can make chronic abuse worse. A ritualistic aspect to it is one of them. There is no cure for this kind of scarring of one’s soul. Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, one must vigilantly stave off its menace through things like poetry. Hugs to you for your vigilance, dear poet.

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