family reunions are fun

i never wanted you, but maybe that's why

you wanted me.

my screams your lullabies,

you never went to sleep without

hearing me beg for help just so you could

slap my face red and tell me to be your good girl.

i learned to stop screaming. it was my way of resisting,

to just lie there silently, numb to your touch

until you started hitting me and didn’t stop

until my tears made the world blurry.

i never wanted to tell my mom that her brother

stole my body for his use every night.

and i never should’ve. clearly i’m just

making it up to ruin his reputation.