Domestic Violence

As we are being bombarded with the phone calls that Mel Gibson placed to his girlfriend all over the media I am reminded of how many people are victims of domestic violence that you never hear about. The ones who don't record the phone calls and have the evidence blasted all over the radio waves because they are too fearful for their lives. The ones who live every single moment of every single day in that fear and keep it to themselves. The ones that never make it out alive.

I read something several years ago (6/1/03 to be exact) that struck me so deeply that I've kept it all these years and I'd like to share it with you. Maybe when you hear the next phone call from Mel to Oksana broadcast on the radio or television you can say a prayer for all of the silent victims.


WHISPERED APOLOGIES

Clenched fists with knuckles turning white
Fingernails cutting into the flesh of palms

Eyes narrowed and lips pinched like a shriveled rosebud
Fists punching walls as blood streams from the knuckles

Trembling hands shredding tissues,
until nothing remains but a pile of dust

Objects flying through the air,
smashing into a thousand tiny pieces on the wall
Screaming, yelling, punching, kicking...

Regretting...

Rivers of salty tears flowing from bloodshot eyes
Whispered apologies from a defeated face
Begging for forgiveness,
for something she didn't do...

I'm sorry.


xo,
Carrie