her questions are a LITANY that falls on DEAF ears, each wordĀ DISTENDEDĀ with the kind ofĀ IRONY that protrudes from the syllables & tightensĀ the throat. fingers clench to form fists as he narrows his gaze ( held steadily to the wall ā he canāt seem to face her yet ) before veering her way. & he feels as if heās STARVING, the CITIES between his ribs reduced to dust in the wake of her ignorance. but can he BLAME her? ignorance is surely BLISS, after allĀ ( especially when itās to the MONSTER drooling at your feet ! ). if only she knew how heĀ understands, how he FEELS it in his bones. oh how heād TEAR his own heart ( & anyone elseās !! )Ā out if it meant seeing her KEEP hers (& oh how sheād HATE him for itĀ ! ). & itās the SWELL of pain & bitterness that forces the syllables from his throat, causticĀ & corrosive as the bile that sits ( patiently )Ā beneath; itās dismissive & biting, but itās all heās got left when looks at her with that ACHE in his chest. lips stretch to form a tight smile, the syllables sliding out slow and pointed. Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āwhich is exactly why youād do well to stay out of my way, elena. otherwiseĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā who knows what i might do.ā & the frightening reality of such words BOILS & FROTHSĀ beneath the raillery at the surface.