She

she is three years old

& holding the hand of her

older brother as they walk

through the field -

a summer breeze falling lightly

over her rosy cheeks

he swings the small girl

through the air as she

screams and giggles.

she is seven years old

& breaking down a locked door to

find the boy on the floor

and crying -

a dim light illuminates his face

she holds him tightly until

the tears stop falling.

she is eleven years old

& going deaf -

sitting in a loud room with

a lively crowd

she cannot hear a sound.

she is thirteen years old

& can't seem to figure out why

all her friends keep sneaking out

for sex -

it is an unappealing act that

everybody seems to care about

except for her.

she is sixteen years old &

visiting her brother in hospital

after another near death -

it is winter and snow falls

outside the window

unspoken words linger between

her and the boy

she cannot hear his voice.

she was nineteen years old

when she looked into a mirror

and saw her father for

the very first time.