“Laurel! Time for dinner!” Mom shouted from the kitchen where the warm, sweet smell of cherry pie filled the air. I could smell the pie she was making from my upstairs bedroom. I love moms cherry pie. There is something about it that makes my heart cheer for joy. I don’t have much of that around here.

My papa is strict, and my mom, well, she does whatever papa says to do. I don’t know why papa i...

This man.

This man I love,

to the bottomless pits

of my being.

Lord, I love.

But I’ve lost hope.

I’ve lost hope

That we could ever be a family.

Or even friends.

I’ve lost hope.

This man I love,

I also hate.

Through his lies,

I frolic through,

the bees and butterflies.

The bees,

the buzzing,

of a new life ahead of me.

The butterflies,

the flying,

the sweet smell of freedom.

These shackles and cha...