he stands aside. i push him aside. he grabs at me, i knock him down. up the stairs he chases after me, i kick in the face. i trip, hang onto the banister, he grabs hold my hair. we tumble and tumble and tumble and along the way there is a soft crack, the popping of knuckles. by the time we hit bottom, his tongue hangs out of his mouth and his head lolls from side to side. i breathing, i slowly stand up. i kick him before going back up the stairs.