five hundred feet apart

I went to a tiny middle school,

nine kids in my grade.

If my father were to show up to a game,

he could barely stand inside the gym.

he had to stay 500 feet away

& I was the reason

[he made certain I knew]

because one day I asked who’s makeup was on his counter

while his sister was there

[witness protection.]

& he locked me in his room

Grey Goose & Fresca

For some reason I knew to record

So my purple flip phone went to court

When I finally got out of that room

[I really don’t know what made him stop]

I sobbed to my aunt to get me out of there

She said no.

From that point on I was my mother’s replacement

At Christmas this year,

My dad didn’t come home again.

My aunt talked about how selfish he is.

How he doesn’t ask any questions about the family,

He lives in his own world.

She asked me if I’ve ever talked to him about it.

Each time I have told him the truth,

We don’t talk for a year.

I laughed.

Don’t you remember when I wasn’t here?