Lived... A poem for a long lost friend

You peep out of your closet

Shivering as you hear the stairs creak

A renegade tear rolls down your cheek

You hug your knees to your chest

Close your eyes

Your life flashes by in your mind

How had you ended up like this

Alone?

Afraid?

Let me say

Your dad drank too much

Your mom walked out the door

Your siblings were taken away

You were left alone

Your heart beat races

Races like a horse

In the races

The door opens slowly

You want to scream

A foot enters into the space your in

Why is this the life you live?

Why is this the pain you have been put through

Why is this the way it is?

Why is this the life you live?

You see the tough leather

Wrapped around his hand

You see his face, disastrous and frightening

No one you know could understand

You don’t make a sound as he draws near

More crocodile tears fall from your eyes

He opens the closet door and takes you hand

And the belt comes down once again

The police come to your house

Distracting him long enough

You cry for help but it is weak

There isn’t enough blood 

Not enough to keep

Keep you going

Keep you safe

Keep you happy

Keep you normal

Keep you dreaming

Keep you loving

Keep you hating

The only emotion you feel right now

Is the pain for all that has been

You feel sorry

Sorry for him

Sorry for her

Sorry for the people he’s messed with

Because you know what it’s like

You close your eyes

Your breath shudders

You heart isn’t beating any longer

You know the medics try to help

But it happened too many times

For them to help

Why was that the life you lived?

Why was that the pain you were put through

Why was that the way it was?

Why was that the life you lived?