TO LIFT THE SHROUD AND FIND MISERY

I DARED NOT TO ASK. I DID NOT WANT THE ANSWER, ALTHOUGH I KNEW IT FAR TOO WELL. SHE CONTINUED SHRINKING FROM ME, RETREATING AS THE VOICES CAME. PERHAPS SHE DID NOT REALIZE THEY WERE AUDIBLE TO ME AS WELL, THEIR WORDS CLEARLY ENCOURAGEMENT AND DEMANDS. OF VIOLENCE. AGAINST ME. AGAINST OTHERS. AND THREATS MADE BY THIS DISEMBODIED VILLAIN TO HER. WHEN I WOULD ASK IF SHE WAS ILL, SHE’D SNAP AT ME. THE SYMPHONY STOPPED PLAYING. IN TIME, SHE WAS BARELY ANIMATED, ALMOST MECHANICAL IN HER MOVEMENTS. HER DAILY ROUTINES SHIFTED. SHE WAS AWAKE BEFORE THE SUN, AND DISAPPEARED UNTIL IT SET. ONLY THEN WOULD SHE EMERGE, TOO GORGED TO EVER EAT, TOO RESTED TO SLUMBER. IT WAS ONLY WHEN I AWOKE BY CHANCE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT THAT I TRULY SAW HER. SHE STOOD OUTSIDE THE DOOR OF THE KEEP, GAZING INTO A PUDDLE. REFLECTING BACK, A DEMONIC VISAGE, UNEXPLAINABLE BY MERE WORDS. MY TERROR. MY HEARTBREAK. I DID NOT REVIVE THE WOMAN, I GAVE THE QUEEN OF DARKNESS A VESSEL, A PLAYTHING.