Don’t you know
That every cruel word
Every emotional blow
Every undeserved punishment
Every failure to take any semblance of responsibility
Just drives me one step closer to leaving

Don’t you know
That this roller coaster
Of love and abuse
Is what destroyed her in the first place
Destroyed the daughter too beautiful for this terrible world
And created me
A monster
Who refused to refer to myself as your child
Created to be vicious
Created to survive
What she couldn’t

Don’t you know
You almost killed her
You’ll never get her back
You can’t have me either
As soon as it’s time
I’ll be gone

Don’t you know
By the time you realize
You failed
It will be too late