She Played the Fool At Every Turn

His excuse was weak, it was help he failed to seek, without the discipline of his father, he wanted to be in charge, he wanted to exploit her weakness, her unwillingness to stand, letting him take total command. Tight-lipped he slapped her around, and every chance he had he’d put her down, she bruised easily, and she hid it well, her family and friends couldn’t tell. There were signs of emulation from her son, what could she do, what can be done? He would slap her again and again, and her expression softened, she played the fool at every turn, until that night when he thought he was sleeping quietly, he started to feel the burn, smoke floating higher, and the mattress on fire, he tried to move be he couldn’t she could have helped, but she wouldn’t, you see, she was the one who tied him to the bed, smoke ate away at his flesh, and the beatings she endured were now dead.