FRACTURED

i turn my head to the       right to look at my sisters

they both have tears rolling down their cheeks

i have a lump in my throat

        a painful one,

        i won’t succumb

don’t cry don’t cry don’t cry don’t cry they’re weak you’re strong

• • •

“they’re gonna tell us something about their birthday!”

i tell my sisters, we all grin

        we sit on the couch,

        mommy and daddy on the love seat

        our mommy tells us,

“your daddy and I are getting a divorce"

• • •

it’s nighttime, 

        the twins and i are on the green couch

        my daddy is crying

my lips are struggling to stay in place

        a laugh threatens to escape

mommy is talking

        “we both still love you” she says

this will make them happier, i think

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