Baptized By Fire

[catharsis_logs]

He cuts my lip with a knife
straight down the middle
'so you'll always know you belong to me'
his sickly-sweet voice curdles in my ears
the blood runs down my chin,
thick, clotting already
I've never been accused of thin blood.

I buy a gun the next day
the stitches pulling on my lip
he'd cut a cleft into me
the man behind the counter stared at me
'I bet I know why you're buying a gun'
he says jokingly
and I just stare back at him
until his smile fades.