On the Mountain

by Riley Hart

“No one has ever been this nice to me. No one has ever made me feel like I matter. I’ve always been something people can throw away. I don’t know how to deserve this.” “You already do.” I’d told him last night. Cyrus gave me himself. That was all I needed. “She said you were her sun, but you’re mine too.”

“I’ll find you,” he said. “You can’t hide from me, little lamb. I can smell you…smell how much you want me…the muskiness of your desire, the scent of sugar that always clings to your skin. I’m going to find you, and I’m going to fuck you.”

“You deserve more, but you’re mine, so I’ll keep you as long as you let me.”

“Do I really look like this? Am I really this beautiful to you?” I heard Crow move behind me, until he was right next to me. “I keep painting because they never turn out as beautiful as you are.”