Excerpt: Chained to the Rock

Do you see the chains that bind me? They are of your making. Do you see my body exposed to the world? You have stripped it bare. As your boat returns to the safe harbor, I wait for a monster to sink its teeth into my flesh and stop my breath. The monster is you. Your vanity. It will eat me alive. You could not bear to make room in your heart for anyone but yourself, but I will take a place there now. My ghost will claim a chamber there, and will pay no heed to whether you welcome it or not. My shadow will chain itself to the inmost part of you as I am chained to this rock. You will not escape from me . . .