Leon blinked and swallowed hard. The liquid burned as it went down but it was soothing to him. Every drop helped him forget. It was nearly sunrise, somehow he had lingered here all night. He felt like he had hardly moved, paralyzed and all wrapped up in thought. Thoughts of her. And as always she brought the worst memories. 

Leon's hands were shaking, but his grip firm. The knife was thick and menacing in his fist. The sun slowly merging from behind the valley hillside felt like a mockery, lighting another day of his life which always felt shrouded in darkness. The blade dragged just right, it glided and sliced through the few layers of flesh causing the split and spill of crimson. Leon barely winced, he was so used to this. His skin was covered in scarring, all knotted and raised.