a home where
parents who were not meant to be
still pretended to love like they were
birthed children who were meant to flourish
but instead withered
the tender touch they craved for almost absent
a home where
parents who were meant to protect
instead left them exposed
the shield to hide them from this cruel world powerless
a home where
children are meant to grow
instead shrunk into adult thinking
the joys of childhood vanish before their eyes
a home where
in youth through adolescence
the will to thrive declines
as each day is proof that not all days are measured in the same interval
a home where
children who mature young
wear trauma on their sleeves
like a hideous scar waiting to be reopened
— we repeat what we don't repair.
