Jumpy

I'm sure I made a most comical sight

As I ran from the office into the hall,

Ripping my dress off before I'd even

Reached privacy in the bathroom stall.

I hate bugs so much, it's not my fault.

Little bastards that drop from the ceiling.

Hitchhiking rides on the hem of my dress,

Dive bombing until I'm squealing.

Another day, I've got the toaster out,

Frozen waffles for my hungry stomach.

Then BANG! With a gunshot, waffles eject.

Startled, I run, but I fall on my buttock!

I'm in the shower, steam fills the room

Warm water's nice, calms & soothes

Then a knock on the door, I scream, then slip

I greet the floor of the tub with my tooth.

Parking lot at Walmart, I'm out & about.

Ready to go do my shopping.

I'm texting again, eyes down on my phone.

Then what a shock, my hearts dropping!

At the rumbling roar of a mean engine

Belonging to a big old mean truck.

Sure enough one has pulled in behind me.

I whisper to myself "What the fuck?!"

Because the truck behind me is unknown.

Why does my brain get so tangled?

The ordinary sound of a truck should not

Remind me of how I got strangled.

See, years of abuse and control didn't stop

When I left, but do they ever?

Two months gone, then the surprise attack

From the husband who promised forever.

It's been over a year but I'm still not divorced

He fights me in every way possible

Punishing me for the end of our marriage

In my way, he throws every obstacle.

Post traumatic stress disorder. PTSD.

In a constant state of fight or flight.

I jump out of my skin, easily startled

When things go bump in the night.

I look like a psycho, I can't speak without shaking

To those who knew me "before".

Rumors he spread make sense to them now.

I must be a crazy, drunken whore.

If I was abused, where is the record?

For help, I should've called cops.

They just don't get the level of control

Or an abusive man who won't stop.

So next time you see a girl jump out of her chair,

At a normal, everyday sound

Keep in mind she might have PTSD.

And her unseen issues are profound.