Second Chance Ranch by B. K. Smith

When I was very young, I watched overmy mother. At four or five, I already knewthe basics of taking care of, rather than beingcared for. I brought her saltine cracksfor her morning sickness, and she packednothing for my morning snack. It was perfect.It was at that tender age that I began lockingmyself in the bathroom to play. I alwaysplayed there then. I practiced speakingas I spoke to myself in the mirror. I sangin quiet echoes so I couldn’t hear anything.Moreover, they couldn’t hear me.Come find me. Hurt me.I lay down in the empty bathtub with all of mytoys and I sang to my dolls. I reflected in the mirror.Someday I will be old enough to quietly leave.