Damages of Childhood

11 years I felt it, You both said I was wrong. There was no love between you And I knew it all along We were the collateral, Caught up in your mess. I constantly, felt like I was drowning. So weighed down by the stress. Promises were never kept, Just a tool in manipulation. Like when he promised Disneyland For the next years summer vacation. The handful of good memories, Overshadowed by the bad. I could never understand, How you saw him fit to be our dad. I'd pray that you would leave him, I begged you to be strong. I was just a child, And even I knew it was wrong. You stayed until I turned 18, My brother, 21. You thought freedom would fix everything, But the damage had been done.