She slapped me hard across the face
She said: “You’re not stupid”
I was only 9 years old
But I knew she meant to say something else

She said: “You’re not stupid”
I couldn’t understand her
But I knew she meant to say something else
She seemed to hate me after Dad died

I couldn’t understand her
So we grew apart
What else could I do? She seemed to hate me
And I mirrored her hatred

We grew apart
Because she would beat me
And I mirrored her hatred—
Wished she’d been the one to die

She beat me
When I was only 9 years old
And I would mirror her hatred
After she slapped me hard across the face