Mama must love Papa

Papa, you are hurting me.

Papa, stop hurting Mama.

Mama, I will always protect you.

At seven, he said.

*

I like it here—

The silence.

School is my safe haven.

These books will save me one day.

At fourteen, he confessed.

*

I am away now.

My books took me away.

But why do I feel lost?

At my campus, they look... normal.

Papa lied.

Fear, get away from me.

I will make it.

At nineteen, he stuttered.

*

Mama, I am ready now.

Papa is in the bathroom.

Hurry—save me to save you.

Mama, I promise you, I will toil in the city.

Thank you, Mama, for the fare.

Don't miss me too much, Mama.

At twenty-four, he said goodbye.

*

Where am I?

I knock on their doors, asking for a job.

"Who sent you?" they ask.

Mama, the city is a wolf's den.

I am alone, yet surrounded.

Is this it?

*

Mama, I met a girl.

I feel normal—happy.

But why do I sound like Papa?

I slapped her and held her through the night.

Mama, forgive me.

At twenty-six, he cried.

*

Papa, I understand you now.

Mama made you hurt her.

She makes me hurt her.

People are evil—except me.

Why won’t she do what I say?

If only she became what I needed

At thirty, he decided.

*

Son?

Mama, don’t tell me anything.

"Go slow, son."

Mama, I will hit you.

If you had loved Papa, our family wouldn't be broken.

"I did, son."

No, Mama.

He broke my bones and my soul, son.

Foolish woman!

Mama must love Papa.

At thirty-three, he was his father.