She opens the window. Then touches him. Ice cold. Good, she thinks. Thank God, she thinks. She spreads her fingers to cover his chest, to hear with her fingers is there life inside. She hears it. God no, she thinks. She hears it getting stronger. Please God, she thinks, don’t let me forget, don’t let me forget this time. She waits...she waits for it. He opens his mouth and it flies out. It circles the room. It screeches. Get out, she says. She points to the window. Get out. It circles the room. She prays Catholic prayers. Our Father  Our Father  Our Father. She can’t remember. It circles.  Hail Mary full of grace   full of grace...She can’t remember. The Lord is with thee...Hooked beak tears the walls. It gets closer. Screeches. Pray for us sinners...Eyes like glass, it rips her flesh. Our Father who art in heaven...Confused now, screaming now, can’t remember. She bleeds...now and at the hour...at the hour...She won’t do it, won’t, but the pain. Her skin rips, bleeds. The pain, the pain...now and at the hour of our death...She opens her mouth. Amen...

He watches. Good, he thinks. Thank God, he thinks. Must go to Mass, he thinks. He’ll go to Mass and he’ll pray, but pray harder this time, much harder. Then he’ll come back and he’ll wait...he’ll wait for it, and when it’s time, he’ll pray Catholic prayers. He’ll remember this time, all the words this time, every word this time. He won’t forget this time.

William Fedigan William J Fedigan writes about who he is, what he knows, and where he's been. His work appears in Metal Scratches, Kerouac's Dog, Muscle & Blood, Yellow Mama, Horror-Sleaze-Trash, Bastards & Whores, Short, Fast and Deadly, Heavy Hands Ink.