Don't say it.
I can't hear it.
I won't be okay.

Don't take me back to my pain-filled past.
Back to that little girl pretending to be asleep out of fear.
Back to my life being changed forever, night after night.

Don't make me think of the absence.
Think back to that foolish teenager happy for a second chance.
Think of the heartbreak caused as I was disappointed over and over.

Don't say it.
I can hardly think it.
Tears falling down my face.

Just a word.
Made of three letters.
Just one syllable.

How can a word cause so much pain?