Fallout (Crank 3)

zero emotion attached?

And why, when she says,

Oh, no! That’s terrible!

do I respond, “Her fault, really.

The only guys she ever invites

into her life are felons, failed

AAers, and other assorted losers”?

And why, when she says, But

no woman deserves to be hit,

do I dare voice my opinion

that, “Not true. Some women

damn well beg for it”? I bite

down on the copper taste of anger.

Nikki takes a step back,

as if I might think she had

damn well begged for it.

But I could never hurt her.

So why, oh why, when she

asks, How can you be so cold?

do I walk toward Nikki, flexing

my fingers? “Look. If Kristina

doesn’t kill herself, some guy

will probably do it for her.”

And why, when she says,

You are just plain mean,

do I let loose a tsunami? “And

you know what? If something

bad did happen to Kristina,

I’m not sure I would care.”

Disbelief floods her eyes.