She listens…

She shifts in the chair

Careful not to draw attention to herself

Her eyes cast down

She listens

And inhales

They speak

She is quiet, as if she has nothing to say

But her mind runs wild through the valleys of what ifs and when

have and have nots

been there

and never wanting to be there again

The scene is repeated

again and again

She speaks on occasion

Hesitant

She is triggered

And fragile

And fierce

And resilient

She listens

And exhales