Regurgitated promises of change
and the foolish girl who believes them;
A constant battle
Leaving many in its wake.
Her tears fall like cigarette ashes,
Their words slice like razor blades.
She's used to the pain.

Anger spews from his mouth
like the shards of ceramic bowls kissing walls.
She does not flinch anymore,
and for that she is proud.
She simply sweeps away the aftermath,
as if hiding the evidence will hide the pain.
And for that, she is ashamed.

She is ashamed with the way she crawls back,
with skinned knees, she is battered and broken.
She is ashamed for being stuck, stuck with the burden of hope that when he says never again,
He means it.
*Just once. He'll mean it.