WHAT COMES AFTER THE FIGHT

 THEY ARE FIGHTING AGAIN, I WISH IT WOULD STOP

SO LOUD IN MY EARS, IT FEELS LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO POP

I HIDE IN MY ROOM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BED

MY BODY STARTS TO SHAKE, I CURL UP IN A BALL, BETWEEN MY KNEES I PUT MY HEAD

HE’S DRUNK AGAIN, SOMETHING JUST GOT THROWN,

I HEAR MOMMY SCREAM I THINK HE HIT HER WITH THE PHONE

THE YELLING GETS LOUDER AS HE CHASES HER DOWN THE HALL

I HEAR HER SCREAM AGAIN AS HE THROWS HER AGAINST THE WALL

I WONDER IF THE NEIGHBORS KNOW WHATS GOING ON

THE FRONT DOOR JUST SLAMMED…OH NO MOMMYS GONE

SHE LEFT ME BEHIND, SALTY WET TEARS NOW FILL MY EYES

SHE THOUGHT THINGS WOULD COOL DOWN IF SHE LEFT FOR A WHILE

MOMMY DRIVES TO THE BEACH AND WATCHES THE WAVES,

SHE CRANKS HER RADIO AND THE MUSIC PLAYS

It’s quiet for a second, I sneak out of my room, and did he run out after her am all alone now too?

I cautiously walk into the hall; I can see the dent where mommy hit the wall

There’s a bunch of broken glass all over the place

I see droplets of blood; she must have gotten hit in the face

I HEAR THE TOILET FLUSH, OH NO HES STILL HERE!

HE GOES TO THE FRIDGE TO GET ANOTHER BEER

I’M AFRAID TO THINK WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT

I KNOW HES STILL ANGRY THAT MY MOMMY LEFT

HE BELLOWS MY NAME AND I RELUCTANTLY RUN IN

“CLEAN THIS PLACE UP” AFRAID OF BEING HIT I IMMEDIATELY BEGIN

AS I WAS CLEANING UP THE GLASS AND CUT MYSELF ON A SHARD

HE NOTICED MY FINGER WAS BLEEDING AND CALLED ME A RETARD

HE SMACKED ME ON THE SIDE WITH THE BROOM STICK THIS TIME

I TRIED SO HARD NOT TO CRY, BUT MY RED SWOLLEN EYES

ARE FILLED WITH TEARS ONCE MORE

YET ANOTHER BEER HE WILL DRINK AS HE OPENS THE FRIDGE DOOR

I FINISHED CLEANING THE HOUSE, IT’S NOW NEAT AND TIDY

HE NOTICES I’M DONE AND SAYS “COME OVER HERE AND SIT BESIDE ME”

I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG BUT IT WILL STILL BE MY FAULT

MOMMY WON’T PUT OUT SO IT’S MY JOB TO PLEASE HIM

OH HOW I WISH IT WAS SAFE FOR MY MOMMY TO LEAVE HIM

HE CARESSES MY LEG, I WISH HE WOULD STOP

I PRAY TO GOD FOR THE STRENGTH TO TELL SOMEONE,

THAT WAY HE WOULD BE IN JAIL TO ROT

TIME FOR A SHOWER HE SAYS WITH A GRIN

HE WALKS TO THE BATHROOM, I AM ORDERED TO FOLLOW HIM IN

I HATE TAKING SHOWERS WHEN MOMMYS NOT HOME,

HE CLIMBS IN WITH ME I WISH HE WOULD JUST LEAVE ME ALONE

HE WASHES MY HAIR AND THEN LATHERS THE WASH CLOTH

AS HE STARTS TO WASH ME I MAKE THE MISTAKE OF SAYING “GET OFF”

HE GRABS ME BY THE ARM I APPOLOGIZE AT ONCE

TO LATE FOR THAT THIS IS GOING TO HURT A WHOLE BUNCH

HE ORDERS ME TO BEND OVER AND REACH FOR MY TOES

THE WATER IN THE SHOWER IS GOING UP MY NOSE

I SEE HIM GRAB THE BRAND NEW BAR OF SOAP,

IT REALLY HURTS WHERE THAT GOES

HE PUSHES IT IN, I TRY NOT TO SCREAM,

DEAR GOD I WISH THIS WAS ALL JUST A DREAM

HE FINISHES MY SHOWER AND IT GETS TO COME OUT

“OH WHAT A RELIEF” I JUST WANT TO SHOUT

I HAVE TO WAIT TILL HE DRIES OFF

I AM SHIVVERING LIKE CRAZY STOMACH TIED IN A KNOT

HE PICKS OUT MY JAMMIES AND I PUT MY NIGHTIE ON

I HAVE TO GO INTO THEIR BEDROOM, MOMMYS STILL GONE

THE TV IS BLAREING, I’M STARTING TO SHAKE,

TONIGHTS ANOTHER NIGHT I AM GOING TO BE RAPED.

 ©Breanna Martel