The room quiets
Eyes on the happy couple
Hands shaking with excitement as they grasp the smoke bomb
Fingers faulted when they hook the rings
On one side praying for blue because there’s no love for a girl in his heart
The other prays too, because why would she want to bring a baby into this world that will face what she has
Why give life to a being that will have no father,
That in the eyes of other, will have no purpose
Why summon life if it’s doomed to suffer in a system tipped to another
A life that will end short after the sound of a gun on night when she’s alone
One that will be forced to run home after the party because god forbid her shoulders are left exposed
A life that will pick up the pieces for another’s failure
Bloody, bruised, beaten, bashed, bludgeon
By a society that favors the other half
On the count of 3
Hold your breath
They pull the pins and shut their eyes
Pop
As the pink flutters out
Their friends clap and cheer
The husband walks off
Congratulations
It’s a girl