down the rabbit hole:

i saw it last night in a dream.

imagine:
a little girl, around 9 or 10, in this large, dilapidated house
with water sneaking through its baseboards
every time it rains

this little girl?
she's sitting at the top of carpeted stairs,
looking down,
staring in to the aquarium at the base,
but only hearing the screams

and the slamming doors
following the footsteps of her mother
bags packed,
keys in hand

this isn't the first time
and it won't be the last time
and here the little girl will be,
wondering if she'll be left behind

as the car drives away
the little girl settles her head in to her knees
wondering
what she possibly could have done
to have made her stay

damage:
years later, in a dream
replay:
this time, the little girl sees her life
all grown up

her home, her bed, her dogs, her love
but she does not see herself
her mother, instead,
in her place:
yelling, screaming, throwing,
beating, crying, begging

her heart:
how painful an image
to see
the vicious cycle
play out in front of me

realization:
our environment
does not dictate
our choices