A Story Told A Thousand Times...

I'm 16, and a survivor of abuse.
It's good to say that I'm no longer neglected and misused.
Everyone has heard the stories; there's nothing left to tell.
You know what it's like to pretend that you just tripped and fell.

Regardless of the fact that there's nothing left to say;
I'll still continue as if this is merely a re-written play.
"He hit me" not once; not even a few times.
I'd make it worse if I yelled and whined.

When he was done; I'd waddle to the mirror.
I'd cry as I looked at the horror.
Tears would fall down my already swollen face.
I was MY biggest mistake.

I'd crawl into bed and fall asleep;
Only to be awoken by my little sister's screams.
I'd jump in and take her beatings.
She'd lay on the floor motionless; just screaming.

Tears would fall once more.
Things got so hard; I thought there was nothing left to live for.
I'd stare in the mirror once again; looking straight into my bloodshot eyes.
No one ever heard my pleas or my cries.

How could someone cause so much pain?
Why would someone hurt us regularly as if we're just characters in "his" game?
We tried our hardest to be great.
But no matter what; we were always just a little too late.