A little girl.
She's cute.

Brown hair.
Freckled cheeks.
White teeth.
She's so smiley!
Who is her family?

Fighting.
Yelling.
Crying
Screams.

Crashing.
Cutting.
Drinking.
She still dreams.

But feels so alone.
Would you
guess this was
the smiley girl's
home?

She's older now.
Tall. Thin.
Sparkly blue eyes.
Yet,
The same
sorrow
beneath her skin.

"What a beautiful
young women."
"So special"
"So smart"
They don't know
the ache
in her heart.

"So mature
beyond her years."
"A faithful soul"
"An amazing girl!"
"Who brought her into this word!"

Listening--
She gives herself
a pat on
the back

They say you
owe who you
are
to your mother.
What if there
was no one
to help?
What if you
raised herself?