Her voice rises, ricocheting off the cement wall
But it’s still barely above a whisper
Another night, she breaks the cord
Another life, she will hold her own
Her heartbeat escaping from her chest
And she knows leaving is all that’s possible

A delicate string of love, attached to her heart
But not gold nor silver, could purchase forgiveness,
Even inside sleep

“One more drink”, he promised
As he slipped into wonderland;
Where every promise will forever live

She can never bring herself to utter the words “this still hurts”;
In the name of God, he has stolen all the pieces