When you see his mother You remember. You remember the fear in your eyes Terrified at the thought of being *****. You remember the trembling in your voice For the times he sent earthquakes through your body. You remember the efforts it took to restore your soul You were not an easy fix. You took more time that he gave you When he had his way with you A child. He got his way with a lot of things He got his way when you were too fearful to take him to court He got his way when he left no trace of evidence behind He got his way when your father refused to see him again But when you see his mother, Roses in your hair All dressed in black Teardrops stain your cheeks like thumbprints Pressed hard against your face. You are not dressed for her, no But for her brother But for your grandfather. When you see his mother The damage he has done to her is comparable To the damage he has done to you. She cannot walk out the door Without knowing her son is a child molester. You cannot walk out the door Without feeling guilty for what you have done to her. It wasn't your fault, what happened to you But in an odd way You believe what happened to her Was. So together, synchronized You paste on a face You put yourself together Opposite sides of the East Coast Yet so in tune. When you see his mother, You forget yourself for a moment As a river of guilt gushes out of your soul You want to run To, from, with her You cannot escape. To, from, with her Your guilt lies.