Hope

Don’t say a word.

Does it count if I scream?

Facing down the blistering walls of trauma

you and me.

I am a sheep chained inside the lion's den with the façade of

a bedroom.

My throat goes to make noise

a grasp no match to a child’s goes to stop it.

Innocence is lost before it’s fully understood.

Another human like me,

composed of two halves of love

whose soul is sewn with hate.

The scorpion you are, brother

Poisonous.

Blue eyes and pale skin like mine,

is it still possible to be a monster if you’re real?

Three years of silent violence turns to twenty

in my eleventh hour I still see her

a tiny hand reaches for mine.

In tune we both say “I’m sorry.”

Ghost of the silent past and I are now face to face

eyes locked.

“One day you’ll understand why I’m still here.”

“I hope I never do.”