you and i were
always a team
against the monsters
that went bump
in the night
but when morning
burst through
our blinds and
one monster
still lingered
i had to learn
to hide what
should've never
been in sight

you did your best
protecting me,
but then you'd
be taking twice
as much at once

i hated that so
i became the
distraction,
i was good
at siren screams
and flailing falls

you got belts
and i got welts,
and soon things
grew bigger and
badder, fist fights
in front doors, and
flashing lights
on front yards,
my screams had
little to hold
to real sirens

we spoke of
****** of running
of telling of finding
a way to escape
in the night, but
i was too young
and the dust began
to build before you
even left me behind