His lips are smeared in gold. “Why don’t you ever try to turn me into one of your flowers like you did to the men who attacked you? Why do you let me…” He grits his teeth and shakes his head, staring at the ground with a torn frown. Because I deserve the things you’re doing to me. I deserve to be punished… because I don’t want to get rid of you. Words I can’t find the will to give voice to.
