You don’t know when the change happened
But it happened
You couldn’t change it back
No role reversal
You couldn’t rearrange his fist of anger into words of compassion
Hugs and kisses, all those X’s and O’s became something else
Something vicious
The intent became malicious
Women adapt to so many harsh environments
Living shouldn’t become survival
There was even times when you tried to take the blame
Such An Ugly Picture
You tried to change the way your mind framed things
Affection did hang from the walls
You didn’t deserve the love that happened on movie screens
You deserved the pain
Joke about the fear as if it’s reassuring
No matter the repeat offenses, your defense is listening when he says “It’ll never happen again.”
And all these other things that made him right and validated all the bad memories going on in your brain
None of that is true
His love is not real