She Watched.

She watched him shouting words of abuse at her. She watched him slap her face with an open palm. She watched him turn into a different man under the influence of alcohol. She watched him carry his bottle of vodka through the house, smashing family pictures. She watched him roll a joint in the kitchen. She watched him break-down and cry. She watched him get defensive and abusive. She watched him snort lines of cocaine off of the mantelpiece. She watched him destroy the 56 pieces of Waterford Crystal in the china cabinet. She watched him burn their wedding photo. She watched him hold a lighter under a silver spoon bent at a 90 degree angle. She watched him turn from a father and a husband into a monster and a stranger. She watched him pack his suitcase. She watched him call a taxi. She watched him kissing her one more time, with anger, hate and pain. She watched him open the door and walk down the driveway. She watched him leave.1

She watched her falling to the floor and thrash around wildly. She watched her scream his name in agony. She watched her grab a knife from the kitchen drawer. She watched her carve her arms into pieces. She watched her as realisation kicked it. She watched her as she realised what she'd done. She watched her stumbling to the bathroom. She watched her cleaning her self-inflicted wounds. She watched her bandage her arms. She watched her cradle her broken arms into her chest, sobbing quietly. She watched her wipe off the make-up that was ruined by her tears. She watched her trying to keep it together. She watched her pick up all the broken glass off the floor and put it in a black bin bag. She watched her sigh angrily as the bag tore. She watched her start over again this time putting the glass in a plastic box. She watched her getting rid of any evidence that suggested his existence in the house. She watched her boil the kettle and settle down on the sofa with a cup of coffee and a cigarette. She watched a purplish bruise forming along the left side of her face. She watched her crumble. 2

She watched as her father left and her mother fell apart. She watched her life collapse into darkness around her at the innocent age of nine.