Fracture

Let's talk about Divorce.

No son listen

This isn’t an argument

 

Daddy?

He’s taking some time out

He’ll be back?

 

Words catch

Yes

 

Mummy?

She’s away son

 

The spare bedroom?

Dead eyes

 

I snore

Lips downturned

 

In bed son?

Daddy?

He just can’t be here right now

He’ll be back?

Tears brim

No

Confusion

Mum…Why?

Always why

One day

 

One day he will understand

Not today

 

Today

Not only is his home burning

But his world is shaking

It’s starting to crack

 

Mummy?

 

Oh, she hears the misunderstanding

She witnesses the imploring

But how can he understand?

He can’t

So she tries to explain it

To be honest

But to this boy,

What sense can it make?

 

His face cracks

Fraying her shredded heart further

His shoulders crumble under hands

 

Not coming back?

No.

 

Two sets of eyes meet

Both glisten

 

His are his fathers

And that hurts more

 

She envelopes him

As best she can

But now the boy is gone

 

She holds a tortured animal

 

Fists beat

Feet pound

He scratches at her

His teeth gnash

 

He screams

But it is a horrible wretched thing of a scream

A curdling wail halted

Bottled

Confined

More comes

The world dies

 

They suggest counselling

As though that might fix it

It’s always there though

Questions left unanswered

A horrible curiosity

 

He will meet this dark pain again before the end.