-I love you to death.

She sat on the vanity, staring at her reflection. It wasn't the first time her face had been obscured by violets haphazardly blossoming on the surface of her skin as rain drops ran from the brims of her eyes. He said he wasn't much of a painter but he did a marvelous job when his canvas was her skin. She prodded around her eye, her lip, the spots on her arms, not believing it, but knowing it was all to real.

"Baby, I'm sorry." He pleaded. "Babe, please open the door. I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened to me. Baby, I love you. You know that, don't you?"

She didn't say a word so, he continued. "Babe, please come out so I can show you how much I love you. I didn't mean to hurt you, I swear, I couldn't live without you. I love you. I promise it won't happen again. I love you."

With that, she dismounted the counter, opening the door slowly, head hung.

"There's my sweet girl." Smiling wistfully, he engulfed her delicate, shaking, frame in a tender embrace. "I love you so much. Baby, I love you to death."

He placed a trail of kisses down her neck; she shuttered with every one, restraining herself from pushing him away. She let him show her how much he loved her and when he finished, she waited, tears gliding gracefully down her cheeks like ice skaters, until he was asleep then, she showered until every last reminder of him was washed down the drain, packed a bag, deleted her contact from his phone, and left. His condo was almost like she'd never been there at all. The only things that remained were the blood on the walls and the heavy truth of his words, "I love you to death."