Not four

When I arrive the electricity is out
There is a murmur in the buildings
The living spaces
Figures move about
Muttering
Candles are lit
In the streets people pull out their phones
Some service lights on certain buildings pop and buzz, turning on
The citizens resume

Through the spaces
Feet above the ground
Soundless in the air
Then place
Solidity
Swinging of the weight of the body
The leg changing its angle with the ground
The mass of the body moves forward
The other lifted foot is placed
Lift and swing once again

Through a doorway
Long spaces with objects strewn about
Exit
Across the spaces of roads
Pavement
— See how it looks now, now that you’re here.

She sits on the floor leaning against the wall on one side
Eyes open
Tears are slowly sliding down across her cheekbones
Down to the jaw
Clinging to the chin and dripping
At random one will continue to travel along her neck
The Beast beside me
– Do you know what it is?
There is only one flag that is raised
An indication of facts stored somewhere else
I examine the forearm clutching at the midriff
The slowness of her breath
Eyes towards me
Unblinking
The slow release of water
I hear her exhale
In my peripheral vision I see the Beast move
Turn my head to view him
He raises his frame slightly
Turns
Walks towards the door
Exits
I stare
Return to face forward
The Beast sits by the wall
Eyes hidden in the slowly moving shapes of black
No indication of breath
In the darkness I cease to distinguish the moving shapes
He is still
Beside me is the woman
— I can’t see.
Her voice is quiet
Slow
I hear her inhale
Air scraping slowly against the walls of the throat
Exhale
In my peripheral vision I see her move
She turns towards the kitchen
Moves
Takes a glass from the counter
Swings slowly to the tap
Open hand extends
Fingers close
Application of force
Twist
The sound of water striking metal
She stills
Lowers the glass into the sink
Places her hands on the edge of the counter
Lowers herself
Knees touching the floor
First one
Then the other
Her buttocks then
And then her shoulder
The arms slide against the counter
Until they too touch the floor
I look at her crumpled body
Pan my head
The empty space by the wall
The empty space
Twist at the waist
Lift a foot
Place
The other
Place
Until I face the door
The man standing there
Beyond the man the front door is open
Beyond the door, The Beast stands
He turns
Walks away from the house
I watch
Then shift my weight
Move
Walk past the man towards the door
Step
Step
Before I exit I hear him move
The creak as he shifts his weight
Stepping behind me
Exit