Holding that smile that you stole from me

Happy, young, naive

My dad



My blood





But dead to me



Edges worn

Picture crinkled

Your brown hair, green eyes

Both bringing fury to my life



Found this picture

In an old brown box

Rotting in my garage

Sitting there

Glaring at me

I picked it up

Carried it to my room



With meaning more to me

Than to the common eye

Symbolizing what I've been through

Battles I've survived

Now you must suffer

For the mistakes you made

None can be taken back



This picture is my shield

My family's shield

Using it to direct my anger

All onto You



You didn't deserve my mother

Me

Or the air around you



18

Unprepared

I was your mistake



Your anger was a cataract

Blinding you from reality

Causing damage

Cannot be repaired

Your abusive ways

Caused harm

To those who surrounded you



As I entered your path

You made sure

I wouldn't be able to again



My arm had been broken

In eight different places

Because I refused to look



You picked her up

Roughly by the throat

Just to watch her suffer



She didn't



Fight

She didn't




Struggle

She didn't want to make me













Cry



How could you harm

A fragile baby

I was helpless

And Alone



How could you harm

The one you loved

She was helpless

And Alone



Because you did

We picked up and left

Leaving you helpless

And Alone



In a way I thank you

For setting us free

I found my new family

Who loves me

That's more than I can say about



You