Two years later…
She sat in a safe home
Stronger than she has every been

Yet she can still feel…
Her feet pressed against her autistic brother’s chest
Her hands wrapped around his neck
The fear in her
The guilt as she hurt her brother in order to protect herself

Then…
Her back pressed against the white wooden door
Her bare toes resting against the cold ground
The tears slowly dripping down her cheeks
Her hands shaking as she called her mom

She heard…
Her brother’s screams
Her own sobs
Her mom banging on the door
The door unlocking

She saw…
The pain in her eyes for years after the incident

She felt..
The pain in her heart

She heard…
The therapists telling her she could make it through it

She worked and worked…
Until she felt safe
Until she felt hope
Until she was a survivor

She survived eight years of abuse
She survived depression, anxiety, and PTSD
She survived the loneliness, hopelessness, and despair
She survived…
And now she is stronger than ever