The Smile

She hears the motor in the drive. Her blood runs cold in fear. Daddy's home. She runs into her room. She curls up in the corner, Trying to be invisible. If she's quiet, he won't remember she's here. If she's invisible, he'll forget her. It is not to be. She lies in bed, Tears leaving pale streaks on her dirty face. The bruise on her cheek is growing. She can barely see through swollen eyes. Pain racks her, leaving her gasping for breath, Movement is agony. Only the dread of another beating Stops her from screaming in agony. So, silently she suffers. For as long as she can remember this has been her life. Thirteen years on this earth. At times it seems so much longer. Suddenly Daddy groans! Movem,ent is arrested and she stiffens in terror. Footsteps in the hall creep closer to her door. She begins to cry silently in fear. They stop outside her door for a moment. She strains her ears to listen, But he continues on to his own room. She almost cries out in relief. It is time. She waits for hours, it seems, Until his drunken snores are unmistakeable. Slowly, painfully she moves the blankets, And crawls from her bed. She opens the door, Freezing in fear when he stirs. But his snores resume, and she pads on bare feet Towards the bathroom. She has found a way to fix it. To end the pain and fear. Alone she has endured this hell, And she cannot take it any more. There it is. The instrument, the key, the object That will make him stop. She slides down to sit against the tub, Reality of what she is about to do stirs doubt in her heart. But she remembers. The broken bones, the ruptured vessels The hiding, the fear, the pain. Staying home from school for days So she won't lie about another black eye. Pain at first, but nothing compared to what she is used to. First on one side, then the other. And it's ironic, but suddenly she's happy For the first time, she knows this will be the last time. She never realized how beautiful red was. It really was pretty against the blue bathroom tile. And as light fades, she is surprised at how tired she is. And warm she feels. There's no pain. And for the first time in years, she smiles......