All day long, she gives me pep talks
lessons on how to be more assertive
tells me I'm pretty, warns me
she's gonna crack my shell, turn me into a woman.
I feel her spirit inside me long enough
to last a day at work
and most of the bus ride home.
She dies as I walk through the door
hear my baby crying
neglected by the man
I made a terrible mistake with. I long to grab my son
and run away,
run out screaming, singing,
songs of freedom, dreams of planning
escapes to a promise of peace.
She knows when I've been broken, shakes her head
as I slink into work
black holes around my eyes from shouting
back and a lack of sleep. I return her "good morning" smile
and feel her spirit
burning me up. I promise her kindness
silently
that one day
I really will
run.
Holly Day's writing has appeared in hundreds of publications including, Atom Mind, Blue Collar Review, City Pages, Porcupine Literary Journal, and Pyrowords.