What is Abuse?

Abuse is hoping,

Praying,

That someone will show up,

That they would reach out,

That they would show,

Show they care,

Then it turns out,

It turns around,

You are left stranded,

Alone,

Scarred.

They never came.

They never reached out.

They never showed up.

Abuse is knowing.

Knowing that they will never,

Even be there for you,

No matter what you do,

No matter what you accomplish,

No matter if you live up to what they wanted you to be.

Abuse is crying,

Crying from pain,

Crying from bruises,

Mental and physical,

Crying from loss of hope.

Also crying from loss,

The loss of those who hurt you,

The loss of the good times,

The loss of the one you love,

The loss of the one who raised you,

Even after they hurt you,

Time and

Time and

Time and

Time again.

Abuse is seeing.

Seeing the person who hurt you for who they are,

Not for who you want to be there.

Seeing the truth in the lies,

And hoping that you are wrong all the same.

Seeing what they are.

Seeing what you are.

Seeing the pain,

Seeing, but not believing.

Abuse is false hope.

Hoping for a break in the clouds.

For the chance to smile.

It never comes.

Hope is a fleeting thing sometimes.

Here it is.

Now it’s gone.