Dashing looks, perfect hair, flawless judge of character, impeccable cookery skills, elite equestrian, generous lover, brave to the point of foolhardy, award winning ice fisher, exquisite tap dancer, renowned DJ, confidante to the stars.

I think all the above proves my best attribute is...

...imagination.

sometimes she steps off the world

and notices something

or nothing, anything that flickers

in the pit of her heart

and tells her

everything is everything is everything

the leaves bud and grow and die and fall

the earth swallows

and the sky is filled with trailing dreams

that stick in your hair

even if you don't notice

and sometimes

she notices

Words whispered in my ear, I long so now to hear: “A secret for you”.

In our place of peace, within a place of war: “A secret for you”.

Your song in our room, brightness in the gloom: “A secret for you”.

Kneeling at your feet, resting in your care: “A secret for you”.

Everything alright, if only for one night: “A secret for you”.

Door barred from cold cruel world: “A secret for you”.

Lions roared, sticks broke sword: “A secret for you”.

Serpents ’neath our door: “A secret for you”.

Boots assault the floor! “No secrets anymore!”

In love’s, death’s, and my embrace;

Gods smile upon your face.

“A secret for you”.

Rest love. “Love?”

“Secret.....Love”

“You”.

@zoe_n

I was once lost, wandering the earth aimlessly and reaching for a hand to hold.

A blindfold covered my eyes, my mouth was sewn shut, forbiding all my cries.

I stumbled alone through the forest, catching myself every time I should fall.

Creeping closer and closer to a pit, I was destined to fall.

And I did just that. I lost my footing and plummeted.

Down and down I fell, begging God to have mercy.

What I didn’t know, was, there you were waiting.

You waited for me to come to view,

And you caught me, held me tight,

And eventually, whispered, I’ve got you.

It was true, you did.

You had me there,

Whispering the words,

I love

You.

The explosion from the farmhouse startled the rest of the group with Banks. He took a deep breath and laughed.

Banks cracked his fingers, and turned to face Monique. He was growing tired of her. He leaned close to her and asked her, “So, what now?”

Monique shook her head. “Eh...check for survivors..then again we could continue and move forward with my....I mean your plan-” She cleared her throat. The silence from Banks made her try to think of something else to say. Nothing came to mind.

Banks clicked his tongue. He grabbed Monique by her neck and lifted her off the ground. “Monique, let me make this clear to you. You are not in charge of this operation.”

Monique tried to speak, but Banks’ squeezed her neck so tightly that she felt like he was going to snap it.

At that point of pain, her mind drifted off to a time when she was younger and still tried to figure out if her father loved her at all. It seemed like he only really loved his other daughter, and not Monique.

*****

“Oh girls just wanna have fun...” She twirled around and chuckled as she sang along to the tune of the song. Then silence. “Hey, why did you stop the music?”

Monique glared at Leila. She stared at the girl who had taken away all the love and attention that her father had given her. Now all he ever told her was: “Why can’t you be more like your sister?” Sister, as if she would see her as that. Maybe in a different lifetime. They were not sisters. The only thing they had in common was having the same Dad- that was it.

Leila watched her sister grab her record. She raised it above her head and then sent it crashing down right at her knee. The record shattered in two pieces, Leila felt her heart ache. How could she do such a thing? Monique was pure evil.

Monique laughed, and laughed. She stopped the moment she saw tears streaming down Leila’s face. Monique rushed to Leila’s side. “Now there’s no need to cry. That song hurt my ears. The record needed to be destroyed.” Hearing that Leila sobbed much louder.

The sound of footsteps rushing up the stairs made Monique start to worry. She panicked and gave her sister a tight squueze.

The door squeaked and Monique almost jumped. “What’s going on here?” Monique let go of Leila and smiled. “Nothing.”

She watched her father slowly head to Leila. He picked her up and placed a hand on her back. “There, there. What’s the matter my dear?” Monique watched her father and Leila leave the bedroom. She could not believe it. Her own Dad acted as if she was invisible. Could he not see what Leila was upto. She was only crying because she knew that would make her Dad come running to her. He was Leila’s hero. He had forgotten about his other daughter- me.

Monique did her best to try to follow her father’s rules. “Sit up straight...Take care of your sister, Leila..Take out the trash....Water the flower in the garden.” It was chores, and duties, that seemed to never end. Monique did all the work while her Dad let Leila practice her ballet dancing, singing, playing the harp, and martial arts, too.

She was tired of watching Leila get all the attention, love and affection. Surely there was something she could do.

One day on their way to the carnival, Monique wandered off by herself and observed the other children and adults passing by. She walked past a young couple that were beaming with joy. The guy placed a hand on the woman’s big tummy. After that the couple embraced.

Monique continued to scan the area. She pretended that she was on a battlefield. Her sister was the enemy. She slipped and fell near a rain puddle. Her first thought was to scream and look for her Dad. She shook her head and told herself that even if she screamed- he was not going to come save her.

While Monique got back on her feet, Leila and her father were searching for their missing musketeer. Leila pointed and said, “I found her. She’s over there Dad.”

Monique heard someone call her. She recognized that little annoying voice. Leila.

Her father sighed. He bent down on his knee and grabbed a handkerchief from his front pocket. He wiped the mud from Monique’s face. She felt like crying.

Her father started to hum a song. Leila hummed, too. Then she burst out singing the words to the tune, “Oh girls just wanna have fun...” Monique smiled, and laughed. Maybe Leila was not so bad after all.

Leila handed Monique a water gun. “Do you wanna play cops and robbers? I will be the cop.”

Monique nodded her head. Eh, she was tired of playing by herself. It would not hurt to play with Leila. Her Dad smiled and told his girls, “All right my dears. Have fun. I will be right behind you.”

The girls ran ahead of their Dad laughing. He wiped away the happy tears from his eyes. “They look so happy. My darling girls. I hope they will always be there for each other through the good, and rough times.”

He placed his hand on his chest. The pain was becoming worse. His head started throbbing. The girls looked behind and ran to their father’s side. “Dad...?” He smiled, and told them not to worry.

Leila looked at Monique. Their father was not well. They were worried. The girls gave their father a hug. “Okay, let’s head back home. We can come back to the carnival another day.”

Later that night, while Leila was fast asleep, Monique felt someone place a hand over her mouth. The figure moved on top of her. She tried to scream and kick the person off her body. But he was too strong.

*****

Monique gasped for air. Banks dropped her, she landed on the ground. He snapped his fingers and one of his men handed him a kunai. Banks bent down on one knee and brushed Monique’s hair, that was now out of place, with the blade.

Banks spun the blade in his hand, and then stopped it right by Monique’s chest. She started trembling.

“Banks...you do not have to do this..pleas-”

He twisted the blade as it went right through her chest and straight to her heart. Monique grunted. Her heart started to beat slower, and slower.

As Banks pulled the kunai from her chest, and stabbed her again, he said, “One last thing you need to know—Leila is alive.”

She gasped, and felt like screaming, but she had no strength left. No, this couldn’t be. Banks was lying. How was Leila still alive?

Monique closed her eyes, and tried to think of her favorite things. Alas, she could not think of even one.

#B.C. #BeforeCorona

09.22.2020 (Mardi).

Dear Darling Child,

Everything was fine before you were eleven. We were fine. Lovable, innocent, happy as can be.

I suppose it was not meant to be.

Happiness can never truly last, can it? I wish I could believe it can.

But trauma... Trauma pierces our joy like knives pierce through petals. Shredding our every hope and dream.

4 years since it began and we got it to stop, good for us... But while he doesn't touch us anymore, the memories consume us.

This trauma isn't like others. We can't say it was terrifying. We consented. We didn't know better, but we still did. And doesn't that mean we asked for it?

Can an 11 year old truly ask to be molested when she doesn't know what that little 3 letter s-word is?

We should've told mommy the first time it happened. But what if he hurt us for telling? What if he hurt mommy for knowing?

4 years since it began and here we are, drowning in self-hatred. We should've said something.

Is it too late to tell mom of the horrendous sins father has commited? Am I just as guilty for not saying anything and letting it happen, even when I didn't know better?

Would she even believe me, her daughter, when I tell her what her husband has done?

Would she even do something?

No, it's better not to risk it and keep my mouth shut. Suffer in silence than to ruin my life and(or) everyone else's.

Darling child, please come back. I search and search for you, but I cannot find you.

Where did you go with your innocence and forgetfulness? Where did you go with your blunt nature and trust? Where did you go with your courage and love? Darling child, where did you go?

I thought I needed a boy to be strong but I see I was wrong. He makes me string but what I need most is you, the old me, who was strong and brave before father came around.

Where are you Darling Child?

I search but cannot find you...