I Shall Never Breathe the Same, a poem

 

My daughter walked to the store the other day

everything was routine

she kissed my cheek and called out her goodbyes

I could hear the slam of the door as she left

and the silence that lingered.

I went about, doing what mothers do

straightening beds, doing dishes, picking up all the messes

I was relieved to finally have time alone

and I don’t know where the time went –

but she never came back home.

After hours passed, I was worried

I called her friends but they had not seen her

I called other family members in grief

but as everyone said, ease your fears

she is sixteen

and

you know how kids are these days.

I found myself walking the same path she had taken

from the house to the store

and back

pacing worriedly, but holding on to hope

and this is where the story ends –

that last rope of similarity between us.

Days later, they found her body

dumped in a lake on the side of the road

miles and miles away

what pains me most, she was alone

and I swear –

I swear, my heart was stolen from me

she was only sixteen.

They never caught her killer

perhaps he still roams these streets

maybe he is lurking somewhere else

and I can’t help but question… why?

What did he think when

he raised his hands to hurt her?

What did he think when

he looked into her eyes?

And how can you take away

what isn’t even yours –

He didn’t even know her name.

Yet, he took my heart away

he took my heart away

and nothing will be the same

for the rest of my life

no one will ever

understand my grief

and I shall never breathe

the same.

 

© Sumyanna 2017

 

Written for The Daily Post Prompt: Relieved

This poem is purely fictional.