withdraw

a few words, withdrawing

from family participation

and my heart aches for her

for them, for us

something is wrong which

we cannot touch, or even try

to help fix and i feel her

drawing into herself

when we would hold her close

among friends

rapid-fire comebacks

teasing to show affection

wit, word-play and love

feeling vulnerable

i feel vulnerable, but i don’t know why

living alone up here on the hill

no one really in scream-hearing range

i’ve kept the front door locked

so i am the one who lets visitors in

i think i’ll lock the back door now, too