her hope is her
lifeline and she
clings to it
so tightly
hands calloused
with fear and
with uncertainty
each day he
wears away at it
little by little
the marks show
as tiny scratches
on arms and legs

the day she realises
there is no hope
will be the day she
is released
and behind her
hair will stream
on the wind
as she plunges
gracefully
into the depths
and onto the breeze