Iris Murdoch Cut Me Up - No-Man

She was awoken by the stinging feel of his fists pounding against her naked back
She turned to look at him but before she could say anything
He smashed the base of her jaw with his elbow
In the confusion of pain and flailing hands that followed
She was barely aware of the sound of splintering teeth
Rattling in the bloody agony of her broken mouth
He pushed her out of the bed and onto the floor
Her head hit off the bedside table
Bringing the lamp down upon her shoulder
He stood above her as she lay in the mess of bedsheets and broken glass and blood
He stood above her and stared at her startled face
Which was swollen and black with bruising and wet with sudden tears
He bent down slowly kneeled beside her and lay down parallel with her body
He pushed strands of hair back from the side of her face
Pulled his torso up with his arm and leaned towards her
He placed his lips against her ear
He whispered You shouldn't have said that