Home

The soft clanging of weights
Feels comfortable,
Like home,
even though it's not.
I'm lying on his bed,
Just starting
to doze off,
Breathing
Slower,
Deeper,
Quieter,
Not even noticing
The sound has
S T O P P E D.
I feel the mattress shift
As he lies down
next to me,
But at five years old,
I'm clueless about
What will happen
Next.
Movement.
His hand
Warm,
Gentle
Rests lightly on my stomach,
Then slides down
Slowly,
No longer
on my stomach.
I hold my breath,
Not knowing
Why
Just knowing
His touch feels
Safe.
I should have known
It wasn't.
It wasn't until
Time stopped
That I knew.
Nightmares happen
When
You're
Wide
Awake.