Image: – Brooke Shaden
Life had always been a balancing act
It was how it was for her,
So many considerations to be taken into account,
How would the family react?
How would her children already estranged
Respond to her claims?
Mostly they wanted to forget the past
Deny there was ever any issue
Daddy was daddy, no one wanted to remember
The footsteps in the night
The curtains moving as he crept in
Soothed her with the belief
He loved her, and she felt loved.
The unspeakable was what it was
It didn’t happen in our family they retorted
You must be deranged
And launched new assaults upon her.
She retreated and hide from view
Finished her story and lay awake at night
Anxiety and fear gripping her,
But she received encouragement and support
Fellow suffers related well
Praised her for her courage
Penned their own stories
While she stayed silent
Balancing precariously at times
Teetering at times
But always determined, passionate and caring.
Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2017/09/26/photo-challenge-182/
Morpethroad 
nice1
Thanks so much 😁
this is wonderful, Michael 🙂
Thank you Lady Lee…
Wow. Great piece Michael
Thanks so much Sarah. Are you on school holidays now?
Yes indeed! Enjoying every minute of it 😃
Good, sadly they never seem to last long enough.
Agreed!
Poignant and endearing – that’s what it speaks to me.
Thanks so much Vivian, I appreciate you stopping by.
My pleasure!
Wow such an intense story this piece. Beautifully written but I also feel really upset that this girl’s family said what happened, never happened in their family. It’s such a terrible thing to say, almost as bad as what her father does. I’m relieved she got the help she needed and away from her screwed up family life. Well done to evoke a great deal of emotion.
Thanks so much Mandi.