Can she fly?

He told her no…

He smiled in her face

Blinding her with a gleaming smile

Aquamarine eyes ringed with gold

False gold

Can she dance?

He told her no

And took her dreams in hand like a clumsy baby

With a fragile butterfly

And picked them apart

Leaving behind nothing but a void

Of doubt

All doubt

She was a girl undone

Can she let her voice be heard?

He told her no

He put his hand on hers and told her no

Gently

Condescending

Caring

Or so she thought

Her voice didn't factor

But his did

So she stood and listened

To his voice

His loud voice

In his voice she heard

A requiem to her voice

Can she be herself?

Under the evening stars?

Under the morning sun?

He told her no

Her views were stupid in every way

Kindly

He explained to her how

And she listened

She had learned to do that with him

She listened

With a sweet smile on her face

As sweet as ube halaya

As sweet as coconut toto

As sharp as a blade

As brittle as a dried leaf

As broken as her heart

She asked him, can she ever amount to something?

Something as important as his dreams?

He smiled. His beautiful smile.

He told her no.