Baby how I ponder your shadow…
The floorboards creak every time he hits them just so. That sound echoes through the halls and through his head, almost a tolling bell, a symbol of doom. He lives for her only because he has to; He lives for her only because he knows no other way to exist. His whole life has been this and the whole rest of it will be, too. She'll make sure of it.
Her footsteps creak behind him. She follows him everywhere, even down to the motel. Even to his bedroom when he wants to turn in for the night. Her shadow casts darkness over him. She's taller now than she's ever been.
"Mother." He licks his lips, apprehensive. "Mother, you should be in bed."
"And you should be watching the office. I guess neither of us can do what we're told." She's quick, lightning bolt in a black sky quick, and he knows he'll never defeat her. Never again.
"There aren't any customers." He challenges. "What do you want me to do? Pick up the motel and drop it on the new highway?"
"Don't get smart with me, Norman. You know I hate it when you get smart with me."
He squeezes his eyes shut until there are spots in his vision. Her voice stops and when he refocuses, her shadow's gone, too. And the footsteps. How he hates the sound of her footsteps. That damn creaking. Those damn floorboards. His hand wraps around the bannister to keep him upright. Every time she leaves it takes him a moment to fall back into himself. Dizziness makes it difficult to move.
"Good night, Mother." He says. She doesn't respond.
No one told me the end of the line could be only emptiness that would swallow my love…