Violence in Suburbia in Five Acts by Laure Van Rensburg

Rich Mason CC



Violence in Suburbia in Five Acts



I.
The gun sits
On the counter while she fixes him breakfast
Next to his plate when he eats the dinner, she’s cooked for him
On the coffee table as she brings him his beer while the game is on
On his lap when she talks to her sister on the phone
On the nightstand when he climbs on top of her

II.
The gun sits
Between them, the silent promise of what will happen
If she doesn’t smile when he gets home
If she doesn’t guess the correct answers to his questions
If she doesn’t shut her mouth when he speaks
If she doesn’t open her mouth when he unzips his pants
If she doesn’t kiss him like she means it



III.
The gun sits
Heavy on her mind, breaking the bones of her resolve
Uncomfortable in her throat, phantom barrel jammed inside her mouth, choking her words
Ghost muzzle hard against her temple each time a friend asks her how she’s doing
A weight she carries with her everywhere she goes, every time she breathes
Crushing as she wonders every moment if today’s the day, he will finally use it

IV.
The gun sits
A silent witness as she forgets herself and snaps at him
The gun sits
On the table when her spine shrivels as he towers over her screaming
The gun sits
In front her eyes while his spit slides down her cheek
The gun sits
A co-conspirator, waiting for its moment
The gun sits
The gun sits
The gun



V.
The
Gun
Sits
Empty
In
An
Evidence
Box

Laure Van Rensburg is a French writer living in the UK. Her short stories can be found in online magazines including Across the Margin, Spelk Fiction, Barren Magazine, Storgy and Reflex Fiction. She has been longlisted for the Bath Short Story Award, the 2018 Ink Tears Competition and twice shortlisted for TSS Publishing Quarterly Flash Competitions. 

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