Why

Just something I wrote on a whim. I got bit by the inspiration bunny.

Why, mommy, why?

Why am I backed into this tight corner,

with you standing over me with a trembling fist?

My cheeks, they hurt from your slaps, mommy.

Wasn't I a good little girl?

I love you mommy, don't you see?

Oh no mommy, no, please don't hit me again!

Ouch, mommy, that hurts!

Why are you so angry?

"You wretched brat!" you shout at me,

and I flinch at the volume of your words.

"You're the reason he's gone! You're why he left!"

I don't understand, mommy.

I'm only 5 years old, you know.

"Who is gone, momma?" I ask.

Instantly you glare at me,

and I cover my mouth with my small hands.

Did I say something wrong, mommy?

Oh please, don't hit me again!

"You little b***h! Shut your mouth!"

You kick me this time,

and my leg begins to throb under my dress.

You kick me again,

over and over, almost endlessly.

My tears won't stop falling,

and they seem to spur you forward still.

It's as if I'm being ran over by a train,

one that never seems to stop.

"Ouch, mommy, stop!" I plea,

but like before, you don't listen.

Instead you grab my by the front of my dress,

you know, the one you picked out for me at the store?,

and you throw me against the wall.

You come forward and kneel in front of me,

and you begin to hit me over and over again.

Your fists are falling everywhere,

like bullets from a gun like I seen on t.v. the other day.

Why must you hurt me, mommy?

What did I do to make you hate me so much?

I try and I try, but you don't seem to ever love me like I do you.

I did what you told me too, mommy.

I really really tired to pick up my toys, to clean up the house,

even if I can't do a whole lot, mommy, I sure do try.

You finally stop, the pain is intense.

My nose is bleeding, as well as my lip,

my legs and stomach feel like I've been kicked by a horse.

You whipe your forehead, you're done for today.

"I hope you learned your lesson" you say,

just like every other day when you do this to me.

You get up and walk away, leaving me here to bleed.

I try to fall asleep, but sleep just won't come.

No dreams of unicorns and tea parties tonight, mommy,

just a room full of darkness and monsters.

Please mommy, please, just listen to me.

I love you mommy.

Don't you love me too?

Author's Note

What did you think about this piece in general? I've never experienced child abuse or witnessed it, I just took a guess at how it felt based on t.v. shoes, movies, songs, etc.

Reviews

[Elle B. T.]

I think this piece would be even more moving if it were in prose format. And perhaps if the rhetoric or speech pattern was that of a child, it would impact the reader more. But, very good work!