Parents

It shocks me every time
Hands over my mouth
Biting to keep still
And quiet
Breath temporary absent from my awareness

A photo
Of a gorgeous boy
With ginger curls
Another photo unseen
Another boy
More cute hair
Children upon children
And me in the pile
Innocent
Trusting
Confused, so very confused

Hands hitting
And smacking
And pulling
And a belt
On my skin

Worse horrors happen as I write
But more inhumane?

Who got to be the apple of the eye?
It wasnt us.