Trauma.

Sad, past, alcoholic, family

Bottle after bottle

the screams and cries

name calling and fights,

the deafening silence -

hands pressed against your ears,

if only to sink into an abyss.

The couch is your shield

too scared to be curious

you're hiding behind,

and your heart is loud

unable to stifle your breathing

you look to an alternative -

a story 

that you've made up in your head.

Your legs tremble

Your every senses are alert

brother is standing up to dad

mom is crying

sister is by her side,

whispering sweet comfort.

You're walking ever so cautiously

the girl who stays out of it all

there is dad,

face flushed red in anger,

and hands balled into fists

his only comfort

are the empty alcohol bottles

lying broken on the ground.

You try to recognise him

he doesn't recognise you

the tears threaten to fall,

and you're scared to let them

the night darkens, 

everything becomes quiet.

Brother is in his room

door locked,

sister is by mom's side

you're hiding behind the couch

dad is watching TV,

and you stay there

eyes closed and knees up to your chin

because, you don't want to face those unrecognisable eyes.

Reviews

[emipoemi]

Picture this: me on my knees at your feet, arms raised above my head as I repeatedly bow in respect - YUP! "I'm not worthy!" :p This is amazing. Two grammatical errors:

-"your every senses are alert"...the presence of "every" already implies the plural, so "senses" doesn't need to be "senses", but rather "sense"

"His only comfort/are..." - "comfort" is singular, and the "are" is linked with it, not with the "broken bottles", so it should be "his only comfort/is the broken bottles...."

But other than those small technicalities, this is fantastic. I could feel it. It grabbed at my soul and twisted it, that's how powerful this is. And that end! Honestly, I have no words....my voice is in my awe! Well freaking done!