Slamming Doors

She didn't have to tell me her story, the bruises on her face and the hopelessness in her eye's told me all I needed.

Another fight, another bruise -- slamming door 

This time without tears, or fear, just regret.

A night in a bus stop, both hands clutching her bag.

A ride from a trucker  --  sanctuary from the road,

bed in the back, because nothing comes free.

Two days to Charlotte, close your eyes and dream.

A roadside diner serving slop and black coffee,

top buttons loose --bigger tip --rent for the week.

The smoke from a cigarette hides her shame.

She sees him every day at lunch, same type guy,

two ex-wives, kids in another town -- a job that pays.

She trades her Hell for another cell, goes with him.

Another fight, another bruise  "  slamming door…

Reviews

[barleygirl]

OMG! This is a hauntingly & familiarly ugly depiction of such life bruises. Yuk! I hate how true-to-life this is. Seems more raw & base than your usual writes about waitresses. I daresay this is the reality more often than we like to think. Great details & vivid imagery.

[James]

Sadly, that's true. I saw her and it just struck me. I had to write it down.

[Papaya]

I think you captured this story, which is one of many, perfectly. It almost makes me want to cry... :(

[Tony Jordan]

On a never-ending conveyor belt of pain and anguish and we look on - helpless looking at hopeless.
Your use of the line at the start and the end conveys that circuit of hopelessness so well James.

[James]

It's a cycle that so many fall into. I wrote this after eating in a road-side diner while traveling for work. The waitress had a big bruise on her cheek and this overwhelming sense of hopelessness about her.

[Tony Jordan]

Holy crap.
It's mind boggling.

[...]

Such a vivid confronting write I hate that this is all too real! Some great lines James...a memorable piece. Starz

[James]

Sadly it is all too true all too often.

[HeyJadeXO]

The overall feeling is spelled out to the reader in an indirect way.Very neat makes you think .Great work!

[James]

Thank you, I could see her whole life just by looking at her. Very sad. Thanks for reading.

[dHarwin8184]

You painted a very vivid picture. I enjoyed it