Key To Their Heart
By Ben Walker
It was never their fault. They were seduced, tempted, helpless at the hands of some mystery villain. One who possessed the uncanny ability to shut a lover’s heart away from mine, without even knowing me. Their hands would go up as they provided a meaningless name and more words to match. “I’m sorry,” they would offer, as I let them open up. “It’s not you, it’s me.” Sometimes at this point, I would offer a supplicating touch. Sometimes not. Every lock requires a different approach; hearts are no different.
“You didn’t mean anything,” I would say, watching relief turn to realisation. Letting them wait often gives me the chance to study the ossifying effect of guilt on their faces. There’s some bitter amusement in allowing a few excuses to dribble out. I might even grease them up a little, make it seem like I’d done something wrong. Nothing lights up a liar like agreement. Only seeing joy in their faces just makes me want to snip their lying tongues out.
Still, even a quiet liar knows the power they hold. So I would wait, allow them to push their explanations out, letting them wash right over me. No point in memorising any of it. Part of love is endurance, so I would wait for my chance to regain their attention. To show them how patient I was.
The trick is to find their very centre, the route back into their heart. For this, I use the medium paring knife; rubber handle, titanium blade. This is the key. Work it under the breastplate, in-between their lies. You might steal a quick look as they start to understand you again. Concentrate on the connection. As you sense the return of warmth between you, let it run down your forearm. Rubber handle, remember? Keep your focus as they begin to move against you, then watch their eyes lock into place, a look meant only for you.
Now slide the key home, and turn.
You’re inside.
Ben Walker
Ben got a taste for terror after sneaking downstairs to watch The Thing from behind the sofa at age 9. He’s a big fan of extreme & bizarre horror and well as more psychological frights, and most things in between. When he’s not reading, he’s writing, and when he’s not writing he’s on twitter @BensNotWriting or reviewing books on his YouTube channel, BLURB.
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