The woman on the bench sits alone every day
staring off at some unseen thing
Or maybe she's gazing at the clouds to find
that happy place inside her mind
I asked the woman, why this bench every day?
The birds all fluster around
She looked down to me, only to say
"I've found him. He's mine today."

The whispers turn to echoes here.
This place where darkness thrives
and secrets hide.
You hear it breathing.
It calls your name.
Hidden in the corner,
you clench your mask of light..
What once was bright is fading.
The dark is overtaking it.
For a moment, there is quiet.
Your heart is pounding
palms are sweating.
Hold it together..
Cries from the past are creeping in.
They'll find you here.
These memories will consume you.
Their intent is clear.
They will never let you get out alive.
On ****** hands and blistered knees,
You'll crawl away.
Fumbling across the glass filled floor
From all the broken mirrors
that promised something more.
Blindfolded by the dark
You pray.
When the tears started,
you can't quite tell.
Times stands still here.
If it weren't so cold
you'd think it was Hell.

little girl, little girl, why do you cry?
you're only three; it shouldn't be hard
mommy & daddy just need a break
don't worry, everything will be fine
in time

little girl, little girl, where's your smile?
you're nine years old; you should be
happy & enjoying childhood
mommy & new daddy are just having another disagreement
don't worry, everything will be fine
in time

little girl, little girl, why do you hide?
you're ten years old; you shouldn't be afraid of him
new daddy is just grabbing a drink
he wont hurt you when he's sober
don't worry, everything will be fine
in time

little girl, little girl, why do you run?
you're eleven, you should stand up for yourself
new daddy didn't mean to hit you or your mom, it was just an accident
& daddy didn't mean to ruin your life
it just seemed to happen after
he took you away forever
don't worry, everything will be fine
in time

little girl, little girl, why don't you speak?
you're twelve years old; you should have a say about who you are
daddy & new mommy are just
"disciplining you", don't take the insults personal, darling
don't worry, everything will be fine
in time

little girl, little girl, why don't you understand?
you're thirteen; you should be a big girl now
big brother is only doing what's best
for him & mom
you'll be okay on your own
don't worry, everything will be fine
in time

little girl, little girl, why do you harm?
you're fourteen; you should be strong
daddy & new mommy are just angry
& having a bad day today
they didn't mean it when they called
you worthless, did they?
don't be mad at mommy for what happened when she was with
new daddy
if she didn't abort the baby
you & her wouldn't be here right now
your little brother or sister
wasn't allowed to grow
but maybe she did what was right
don't worry, everything will be fine
in time

little girl, little girl, where did you go?        
you're fifteen; stop being so pitiful
words don't hurt, right?
that's what everyone said, right?
how new are your scars, darling?
you must feel terrible
now that your parents know
you're good at hiding the pain
almost too good
thoughts of suicide & scars of
self-harm; you're one of a kind
why did you try to leave?
why are so you depressed?
why are you always asleep?
little girl, are you even listening?
don't worry, the worst has passed

you're already lost.
a.c.