Fantastic, I wish I had a vote I would nominate it!!!

Be still my heart......

I never quite know how to comment on poems like this because it hits so close to home a lot of the time. I know what it is like to have the nighttime be your safety when the calmness fills the air, and there is no yelling, no violence etc. I think for a long time there will always be a feeling in the back of your mind, of when not if it will happen again and your body is used to it.

The first stanza is well written because there are many emotions at play here, mostly you are surprised and what I think is scared at the same time. You are constantly at war with your thoughts and perhaps this is the start of the night where the calmness has started, but that calm overwhelms you because as I said- you are used to loud noises etc.

That being said you were prepared to protect yourself if need be, so it seems as if you were never hurt, although this violent person hurt other people close to you. Something inside you never called the police, because you were too scared maybe, that is the feeling I get at least, I think if you did actually get help something much worse would have been done. Even though all these negative things happened, in your overactive mind things would have and could have been much worse.

This person has grown up in your eyes, but change is a hard word to say and I think that is because if one thing goes wrong this person could slip back into their old ways of violence again, and you know what it was like first hand to feel that fear struck into you.

That ending is incredibly sad, because you felt like this person loved you before, and when they changed it all fell apart, and now all of these barriers have been built around your heart. One person can truly change the way we see love for better or worse. This was an excellent and brave write.

MA,
sorry to read such trauma in your piece, so sad and my heart goes out to you. There is never a need for violence, however it is so commonplace. Its a sickly power of many where they need control, as they are generally insecure within themselves. No excuse, it needs sorting for the sake of how others are inflicted with their issues!
Very well written
Much love
M :)x

To write about abuse and the aftermath it causes is hard to talk about, let alone write about.
This is so elegantly written and its powerful to read the affects of behavior it causes in the aftermath for years to come,
but its the strength within that shines and will overcome the tragic memories. beautiful and sorrowful read, well done!

Congrats on the win

Congratulations x

It really aches me to read poems or stories about abusive partners/parents and toxic relationships. Why would someone do that? Hurt a lover or a daughter/son? I just can't get it. You're very strong. Your writings always show that. Love you so much.

This is tragic but wonderfully written.

Beautiful and well-deserved win.

Congratulations on the win.