Betrayed

She hears screaming,

glass shattering,

bones breaking.

She hears the pounding of her own heart

As she hides beind the bookcase.

She smells her moms uneaten meatloaf,

Splattered across the floor.

She smells the Jim Bean on her dads breath

as he searches for her,

angry and frusterated in ways she does not understand.

She sees her mom's limp hand dangling off the couch,

blood dripping and staining the snow white carpet.

She sees her dad's bloodshot eyes

glazed and confused,

as he dicovers her hiding spot.

She feels pain as his gruff hand grabs her hair,

old scars reopening as she is dragged across the floor.

She feels tears well up in her eyes,

dreading what will come next

for this is not the first time, and she knows it won't be the last

She tastes metalic blood as his fist connects with her mouth,

over and over until her sight darkens.

She tastes the brine of her own tears,

and swallows a lump of betrayal,

as she drifts away.