She stood at the door
Undecided, hesitant, glancing,
Her bags in her hands, then back at the room.
New and fresh, yet old with spurned memories.
Should she or shouldn’t she?
The cost of her thoughts - her whole life ahead.
There was nobody around.
Now was her chance, to steal away like a thief.
She listened to the ticking clock,
Harrying her nerves with every second,
She dropped to the floor then, heaving with tears.
Knowing she couldn’t leave
She would never leave. She was trapped;
Her vision: A free deer caught by its own antlers
In a low tree branch –
Her traitorous snaring thoughts.
She loved him. How could she leave?
She hated him. How could she not?
A key turned in the door.
She sat there, waiting, tarrying.
The footsteps coming closer every second
Each a frozen instant of fear.
A dark shape crowded the door
Saying nothing – watching.
‘You wanted to leave?’ the final ironic question.
She mutely shook her head.
‘You would leave me?’ the accusing blaming voice.
She looked up at the taunting face
Hating herself for loving it.
‘You have changed. I don’t know why.
You scold, scream and yell. I only cry’
She thought but did not say
Fear crowding her mind once again.
He pulled her up, glared at her silent plea
‘You want to go? Why?’
She didn’t know what to say..
The doorbell - her saviour, clanged in urgency.
He left her there gaping, swallowing
Trying to breathe as the door opened.
‘Sis? What happened?’ she heard him ask
Between sobs not unlike those she’d shed before,
His sibling’s whisper – ‘I couldn’t stand it, anymore’
She said before he could ask.
‘He speaks harsh words. Does harsh things
I just needed to leave'
A burst of anger unleashed.
Envy for courage greater than hers.
The smirk of irony, through it all.
She listened quietly, standing behind him.
Watching him take it in – like a mirror.
Hearing her own thoughts – from another’s mouth.
Her own curved into a paradoxical arc.
‘Why do you smile? Do you find this funny?’
The other spoke, shocked at her callousness
And her brother’s silent frown.
Glancing at him, turning towards her,
She said slowly yet surely,
At last finding her voice,
‘It is now, we are truly sisters.’
