Alone

“I’m alone”, she said,

with that feeling of dread,

Fears the sound of footsteps on the porch.

Cast-iron clutched tight,

She crept through the night,

To check all the windows and doors.

Before leaving for work,

He was always a jerk,

But at least he could make her feel safe.

He’d leave for the night,

Police would take flight,

Like a ritualized search taking place.

Anxiety grew,

She’s paranoid too,

Her fear has her right where he wants.

A woman so strong,

Chipped away for too long,

A ghost in her own life, she haunts.

Outdoor lights are lit,

But in pitch dark she’ll sit,

Convinced that someone’s looking in.

In fear, she will freeze,

Even scared by the breeze,

She waits for the sun and her man.

“I’m alone”, she said,

Tears streaming in bed,

As she curled herself into a ball.

She’d stood up for her,

Eight years’ rage in one blur,

Can’t love if he’s not in control.

He helped pack her things.

Always pulling the strings,

She moved out of their home with no choice.

Orchestrated defeat,

Every night she would weep,

Nightmarish, his echoing voice.

“You can’t without me,”

She began to agree,

What if he was right all along?

Alone and afraid,

She cried, and she prayed,

Without him, she’d never be strong.

Her fear turned to sadness,

It bordered on madness,

If only her light could still shine.

She thought love could save,

Could make her feel safe,

If only someone said, “You’re mine.”

“I’m alone”, she said,

As the dark sky turned red,

Earth turning to show her the sun.

The peace that she felt,

As she sat by herself,

In the end, she had finally won.

All alone, she found peace,

It was all she would need,

Everything else would fall into place.

She felt all her pain,

Mem’ries falling like rain,

Her healing went at her own pace.

The sun finally rose,

In the sand were her toes,

Staring thoughtfully into the sea.

Most love her serene,

As calm as a dream,

The most perfect days at the beach.

But she loved the roar,

The power, the force,

She loved how it made her feel free.

The waves crashed in song,

She’d been strong all along.

“Could it have always just been me?”