"Threshold"
by S K Dapoz

Taken by kind permission from Father's On-Line Library.

Bright terror rising in his throat,
the light collapsed to black
until something inside started to heal...
or he tilted over into madness at last.

His throat screamed out, voice only a sore whisper, 
still, his tone made her flinch....
but his whisper was far away and forlorn,
lost in darkness.

His eyes shone with a heart-wrenching
  combination of fright and defiance
mixed with a refusal to be cowed.
He kept the weight of this abandonment
  to himself.
Who could he tell that he felt abandoned --
  punished?

"Please....hold me.  Just hold me."

About the Author

S. K. Dapoz has been writing poetry and nonfiction for twenty-five years. Beauty and the Beast has been her first foray into fiction. She has written and edited several fanzines, including the Queen's Knight series, and "All Things are Possible with Love," rated a four in the Q-fer. She owns a small desktop publishing company, Purple Rose Press, and publishes a yearly poetry anthology composed of poetry by Baha'is, as well as poetry chapbooks by established writers. Purple Rose Press also accepts freelance graphics and editing assignments. She is also a software specialist at the Indiana University School of Business in Indianapolis. For information about 'zines or freelance desktop/graphic or publishing rates, SASE to: S. K. Dapoz, 815 N. Broadway, Greenfield, IN 46140, or email: SDAPOZ@INDYVAX.IUPUI.EDU