Strong

1996

She stands alone in the darkness
Hoping to stop the pain he gives her every night.
She holds herself up against the pain, hoping to be strong enough to stop it.

She closes her eyes and sees the future: dark like her life is now.
She watches him sleep, wanting to see his chest ripped open, that way, maybe the pain will stop

When will it stop?

Not till it destroys her, invades her, impregnates her, sucks her dry- until there is nothing
left of who she once was.

She remembers that person, young, beautiful and strong, she had dreams. Dreams of moonlit nights and summery days. Then she met him, her monster, her master. She stands alone in this darkness, praying for the way out.

She is building the strength day to day to beat him. She must survive, she must have her dream. No more hands on her mouth, her legs, no more invasion of her mind, body and soul.

She must survive.

She is walking on the beach now, sun on her face-knowing she has survived

She stands strong.