Last night

there was a man outside my apartment

watching, waiting, I watched him. He was not familiar.


The light at the end of my block, the streetlight, turned red

a car was stopped. I could see a woman, in the back a little girl.

The man walked up to the car, broke the window. The flash of dark metal, a gun.


 I grabbed Maurice's knives

ran for the man.

He saw me fired

grazed my arm but I did not stop

and stabbed


The woman fled with her daughter

frightened but I hope, also thankful.

I left him where he lay, cleaned my knife.

No one talks in this neighboorhood

and what beat officer believes a frail woman capable?

they never knew, never expected. Maurice for all his faults taught me one thing

lies and vaudville.

I should feel bad but the pain has leveled me, in a way self-infliction could not.

I'm steady, I'm in control.

For the first time in a long time.

Rachael is done being a plaything, a toy.

Perhaps it is time to stirke back.

Perhaps it is time to make a difference.

Perhaps it is time

to take control.