Break The Silence

I can see it there.
Just below the surface.
Twenty meters down into
A deep, orb of blue.
The fear that haunts even
Her breath when she exhales.
A scream breaking a clear Saturday morning.
Birds are out, chirping.
Toddlers play with rainbow chalk.
But all she can hear is the scrape of his chair,
The slam of the ridge door
And the creek of the stairs.
She curls in on herself, praying that
The backbone that has grown pronounced
Will protect her from his love.
He says he loves her and this is his affection.
Bullshit.