invisible chains

in a dim room
you wait
you know what is to come
its happened too many times
to count
the days and nights blur together
no escape
no hope

a little boy with curly hair
he calls you "mama,"
he runs across the dirt floor
into your open arms
you hold his thin body

a breath before the storm
the darkness presses in
you feel the marks and pain
but
you don't see your naked body
memories flash before
your tired eyes

you tell him
"I'll be back"
working far away
is a small price to pay
for his life
a small price to pay
for hope
they promised
us a better life

resigned to your fate
empty and numb
you no longer feel
anything
as
heavy footsteps echo nearer
and you break your face
into a weary smile

you knew you would be working
but
not like this
not this way
you are paraded and priced
a human with a tag
measured and humiliated
beaten and raped

the door creaks open

you scream and fight until they break you

you're blinded by the sudden stream of light
heavy footsteps approach your dirty mattress

they show you a
recent picture of your son
all plans for escape are forgotten

you press inside yourself,
you clear your mind,
you harden your heart
you tear your soul,


you are forgotten,
worthless,
something to be used
and tossed,
traumatized
and empty
you are only nineteen
but you feel as if you've lived
a thousand endless years

as you look up into the eyes
of one of the countless number of
men that will
rape you

you smile and beckon
you have to

who will set you free?
who will heal you?
who will fix the damage that has been done?

who will love you?

who will break your invisible chains?

"I will," He whispers.