And She Was

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This old gal…

Early morning…still dark outside…checking to see if that neighborhood cat had come to visit…had a revelation…

The reason she’s so drawn to that kid at an island all by himself is because she was one…

Not that she acted out…never…little me followed rules…sat silently…did her work…because she had a secret…like many of those kids sitting at those islands…

A behind closed doors secret…a banging her head on the floor in a hysterical rage mother kind of secret…

Never knew when it was coming…never knew what would set it off…walking on egg shells kind of secret…so sat in that desk…quiet as a mouse…because that might keep the demons at bay…

But would watch others seek attention…get attention…and in her heart she desperately called out…notice me…

And she remembers those who did…

Who made her feel special…who saw her…who cared…and she vowed she would one day be just like them…

And she was…
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And those daughters of mine…agree…