Aspirin

in a sheath an angry point, giving focus to his rage.
put it away. don't settle this that way.
a gift revolver she has safely tucked away.
for this day she means to show her hand.
a quiet ambuscade, a rendezvous, a date.
the meeting pair. the hidden hate.

when he meets her eyes he'll remember a time when he was smitten.
he will relax and she'll be taken back to when she was fever stricken.

seeking openings. preludes to suffering
this night will settle future fate.
his heart was stepped upon. her humble father gone
they dance with anger in their step
a chance encounter willed in them the need to make a kill
to make the world alright again.
her memory of dad, who died because he killed a man.
an accident for sake of aspirin.

a man who broke into a house to be betrayed
he needed medicine for which he couldn't pay
a startled tenant who attacked in mere surprise
he realized and forever closed his eyes
a student found a weeping man and had him hauled away
condemned by the state and now this young man bears her hate.

when he holds her hand she will understand that this was all he'd ever wanted.
when she brings him home the images will show pictures of the man that he'd convicted.

she broke his heart in youth, he brought condemning proof
tense fingers tightening on metal
her breath begins to rasp and she hopes frailty will pass
she hopes that she won't have to wrestle
he clenches on his knife then he prepares to strike
and drive the shameful rejection in
but then his hand is stayed by the vision of the man that he'd put away
and she prepares to see that man avenged for the sake of aspirin.