The knock

I heard it loud and clear

Someone, something

Waiting at my door

The times before

I took a peek

Confused and scared

I stayed hid

But not now

It's not that I

Even have

A choice anymore

These feet

Are they mine?

To this floor

They are bolted

Yet I feel no pain

I feel nothing

Only an emptiness

Filled with sadness

Without warning

A hand, my hand

Reaches out and

Touches the handle

Slowly, painfully,

I turn the handle

And finally

I see, I feel

A little girl

Big brown eyes

A picture

Of innocence

She looks at me

Concerned,

She asks,

"Are you ready?"

I stare blankly

Without an answer

She walks in

Without a smile or a frown

She approaches

And I draw back

Afraid

Of a child

But she is a woman

In a child's body

Seen things much

Too horrific

Her eyes bore through mine

They ARE mine

She removes the bolts from my feet

And I stand

She says,

"You can go now"

But I stand firm

And relish in the pain

For this pain

It makes me human

It makes me feel

Makes me angry

"I know how you feel,"

Says the young one

And I lash out,

"How could you?!"

"It was you who left

Who ran away

And left me

Without a childhood"

"You are a coward!"

And then I cry

Burning hot tears

Fall at my feet

But she is not angry

I have hurt her

And I have hurt

Myself

Guiltily,

I reach out

And take her hand

She looks into my eyes, my soul.

And gently,

Reassuringly,

She squeezes my hand

And we are one again