words died

these words, stilled
by the horror of
her killer's face
closing in,
asking
when

these words, dried
by the breath from
the heated hiss
that demanded
time

these words, broken
by the
slap
and then
the silence
of what was to come...

these words, bloodied
by a silver knife
that
seeped into flesh
and then
fell
impotent
to the ground.