a witch at the ex's house

I am surrounded by five pairs of hands, frantically tugging violent on the rope coarse against my thin- ning body. The blood leaks out of my shaking palms, metal-nailed high high above my head to the stake. I watch you ahead, playing with the lighter that tumbles around your hands, draped in freckle stars and I find the urge still to kiss your fingernails the rope slackens, just a bit, and I nearly give, but I see your earth eyes flash and please please tie the knots harder harder. you ask to kiss me again and God, I burn