“I’m surprised even made choir!” Anger, frustration, desperation.
“I’m surprised you would say that.” She’s only nine- she doesn’t know what she’s saying. She doesn’t know the meaning behind those words. How they cut like a dagger, slicing away the pieces until my heart isn’t whole.
It’s bothering me.

The way she ignores what I’m saying. How I respond with an insult filled with acid, burning her until I can see behind her defiance. A slam of the door, push with the arm until she’s falling
Falling
Falling
And though I can see she’s all right, standing there, looking at me, she will never get back up.