Now

Tears hurt Eric's eyes, and because he was alone, he let them fall. Surely Raymond wouldn't come back, he turned the faucet on to hot water and leaned in closer, hoping it would warm him up faster. Pulling the soaked clothes over his head, he threw them in a heap on the bathroom floor, satisfied with the mess he'd made.

The primordial anger that had just been released ran through him like a tangible object. Pulling his legs under his chin, he bit into the flesh above his knees, scraping them with his teeth. Tears won't stop! They continued to ooze out of his eyes. He felt weak and despicable. You can't stop Raymond from doing this to you. He bit harder, wishing the physical pain would free him from his misery.

He wanted to scream.

He wanted to hit something.

He wanted to kill again.

He scratched his fingernails over his arm, feeling both pain and relief as his skin ripped open and tiny drops of machine leaked out. He repeated the process - more pain - more relief. Under the water