The page rubs against my fingers as I begin turn it

Lost in the words on each piece of paper

I look up

Listening to the birds sing to me

Sitting quietly not even the squirrels seem to notice my presence

I like it that way

Their quick hands and feet move swiftly up and down the tree

surrounding it

Two of them chase each other as though it is a game

Unfamilar with their voices I wonder

What their saying

Higher up in the trees

The birds sing to one another

A song of love that only their math can comprehend

Can they see me?

Do they care that I'm watching?

I swing softly in my chair

making sure not to startle their afternoon play

I look up

Little pieces of light wink at me through the leaves as they sway

Inhaling softly

Taking in the oxygen that compliment my lungs

The book still lays flat on my lap

untouched and waiting to tell me more

I begin reading again

with the silent chirp of bird in the background

singing their love song.

What if I told you I was ignorant.

disobeyed my mother

neglected my father

and was

detatched from myself.

What if I told you I am at peace.

listening to my mother

praying for my father

and I am

okay with myself.

What if I told you I will be happy.

rejoicing my life given by my mother

making everyone proud for my father

and will be

loving myself

I will be loving myself.

I will.

The metal clinks and rattles with ever step I take. I don't look up. Voices from near and far yell at me. I didn't do it. There are hands of two officers on either side of me testing me, waiting for me to do something. I won't. As I feel that I am coming near to my destination I hear the rattling of the keys behind me that will soon loosen the grips on my wrists. I deserve it. I enter the room by comand as the door behind me slams shut and I wince. I am alone. Finally. Now, what have done?

It was the night you took me to the carnival. I was still small enough to clinge onto your leg as you danced me around in the kitchen. But was big enough to know that I wouldn't always get your attention. That's why this night was huge to me. Daddy's little girl. We could finally get to hang out like we used to jsut the two of us before my baby sister came along. You bought me more candy than I could've ever eaten and let me rise on all of the big kid rides. I giggled and smiled more than I ever have before. I loved having you all to myself.

On the ride home with the windows rolled down blowing my little blonde hairs out of my face you slowed the car down. I knew were we were, not too far from home. He knew I loved watching stars, it had always been a thing we had done together. He put the car in park, pushed the ceiling window open, and turned off all the lights in the car. We both looked up into the night sky not saying a work but the letting the crickets speak for us. The stars lit up the night sky like nothing I had seen before. Laughing in amazment I couldn't even blink, afraid I would miss a twinkle in one of the million stars. The car creeps forward making sure to not startle me and we head closer to home. The warm amazing feeling of rushing air comes back to live in me and I think. That was beautiful.

Their eyes, they are very telling.

I know what they think of me,

They know what I am capable of.

I sometimes wish they didn’t look a me,

with such disgust.

Sometimes, though, I thrive off it.

Wanting them to know my name

Wanting them to know that they can’t destroy me.

But,

Once they’ve seen me for who they believe I am to be well..

There is no changing their mind.

Right?

I don’t know.

Maybe I’m just a villain.