The Fragile Child

'SHE WAS SOMETHING FRAIL THERE AS SHE LAID ON CRUMBLED SHEETS
EVERY CURVE AND EVERY TWIST IS WHAT REMINDED HER
OF HOW SHE HAD HELD ONTO DEAR LIFE
STRIPPED OF THE HUMAN ELEMENT A FABRICATED TRUTH SEEPED FROM BENEATH HER
AND AS SHE LAY HER HEAD THERE BARELY BREATHING
SHE WONDERED IF THIS WAS HOW IT FELT TO LOOSE A LIFE
A LIFE THAT WASN'T MEANT TOP BE
SHE SAID " MOTHER " HER EYES GLOWING WITH TEARS AS THEY FLICKERED AGAINST THE LIGHT " MOTHER , WHO AM I " SHE'D ASKED " WHERE DO I BELONG "
HERR MOTHER JUST SIMPLY LOOKED DOWN AT THE CHILD NEAR TO TEARS
" DON'T ASK SUCH SILLY QUESTIONS " SHE SAID WITH LOVING EYES STROKING HER DAUGHTERS CHEEK AS SHE LET GO THE GIRL LOOKED UP AT HER AND SAID
" MOTHER , WHERE DO I BELONG " AND AGAIN THE LARGER WOMAN LOOKED AT THE SMALL CHILD " IF YOU DON'T FEEL IN PLACE IN TIME YOU WILL LEARN TO "
SHE STARED NOW A SINGLE TEAR FELL DOWN HER FACE AND SHE STOOD AND SAID
" MOTHER , NO MATTER WHERE I AM AND WHAT I DO I'LL ALWAYS BE WHO I AM BUT CAN YOU , YOU OF ALL PEOPLE HELP ME FEEL LIKE I BELONG " HER FACE NOW STRETCHED WITH TEARS HER MOTHER LOOKED UP AND SAID " CHILD LISTEN TO ME , I HAVE TRIED THE BEST I CAN IF YOU HAD BOTH OF US " SHE SAID " MAYBE YOU WOULD FEEL LIKE YOU BELONGED " SHE TURN AWAY AS IF TO HIDE HER SHAME
THE CHILD RAN TO HER ROOM CURLED INTO A BALL CLOSED HER EYES AND THE TEARS FELL , FELL LIKE THE RAIN THAT MORN THE EARTH , FELL LIKE THE RIVER DID OVER A FALL , FELL LIKE THEY DID THE TIME SHE'D SAT BY THE PIPE AND SAW A SINGLE DROP OF WATER , NO THEY HADNT FELL LIKE THUNDER JUST ONE STEP AT A TIME , NOW SHE REMEMBERED THAT SHE HAD A BOND WITH HIM AND SHE SO FRAIL-LY SAID ONE SINGLE WORD WITH A MIND NON STOP AT THINKING WITH THE BURN IN HER CHEST THOSE WORDS WERE :

"FATHER "

BY:Vivia G. Thompson