she sits
pressed into the
corner of the sofa
a scrap of a thing
so frail
and beautiful
but
somehow
damaged

hee marks
have dropped
from
high distinctions
to
pass-fails
and
whilst
she attends class
her voice is
no longer heard
her body
barely there
she has gone
from vivacious
to corpse bride....

and we are worried

she is crying silently
big sad tears
roll down her cheeks
as she tries to
dissappear into
the fabric of the couch

the index finger
of her right hand
is desperately scratching
at the fabric

i ask the questions
gently.....interspersing
them with safe statements
what is wrong?
you are not in trouble
we just want to see you
happy.
is there any thing
i can do to help?
any thing you say
in here will not be
repeated without your
permission.
why are you so sad
at the moment?
you are safe in here


her lip quivers
she pulls into herself
even more
she is a ball of misery

we sit......

and then a whisper
so quiet and tremulous
i almost did not catch it

he ***** me.....
i said no....
but
he ***** me....