What would you call home?
They say it’s a safe haven
A place filled with memories of laughter
A shell of confidence, love and hope
A place to express those caged emotions
But that’s not home for some, never was
For some, it holds secrets darker than the night sky
It holds a constant fear of rejection, betrayal
It holds danger in every step taken
It’s not home for the girl hiding in her closet
As she awaits the arrival of a drunk stranger
A stranger she calls dad,
It’s not for the boy wanting to run away
As he watches his parents fight
And give up on the family they once were
It’s not for the wife staying up at night
Praying with tears, convincing herself
That the man she loves isn’t capable of adultery
It’s not home as he pulls into the driveway
Only to be showered with unending complaints
Rather than the harmony they lived in
All these people out there
For them I whisper a silent prayer
Hoping that one day,
Their homes might shine a bit brighter
That their homes might be worth going back to