You’d never know just looking it her,

That each day fights for her self-worth.

A depressed mother,

An abusive father.

Her in the shadow fighting back her tears.

The tears she shed are put in a jar,

Only in the safety of her sleep will it be opened.

Knowing that feeling nothing at all

May be the best option.

She turns off at home.

Shuts down her feelings,

Her heart,

Her smile.

When the fights start she can only become so small.

He’s yelling at her

Again.

She stands strong

He yells questions with no right answers

Yet expects to get one

And with the wrong answer he retaliates

A swift backhand.

There is no mark

There never is.

He’s a perfected this trick.

Then he leaves,

And just like that it’s over

But at school

She wears an artificial smile.

The way she sees it,

“If they don’t wonder, they won’t ask.”

This school,

Her friends,

This is her escape,

Her time to forget.

She can pretend its all okay

Even if just for a moment

This is her.

She smiles, she laughs, and she loves.

She is me.