Don’t say anything
“Don’t say anything!” spoke
the shadow in the doorway.
I was seven years of age.
I lay limp upon the couch,
still recovering from
his grip around my neck.
My first thought was
to never tell my mother.
He would surely kill me
if I dared speak a word.
I’ll never forget his eyes,
like some feral animal
as he squeezed my throat
Vision narrowed to a point.
I was certain I was dying.
Just as I was blacking out
his eyes began to clear.
He saw what he was doing,
dropped me like a rag doll
onto that tatty old couch.
“Don’t say anything!” spoke
the shadow in the doorway.
I never have, til now.
