the father and daughter

she hints

at what happened

as a child.

and when i see her father put

his arms

around her,

hands slipping down

her back

to the curve of her,

i cringe.

i see the mother,

eyes wide open.

eyes wide shut,

pretending as always.

that nothing ever

happened, that

her daughter  was never

touched.

but it's clear now, why

she is the way

she is. who wouldn't be.