My parents sat in the waiting room for six
hours and I am told that my father said
‘that’s a shame’
to my condition
and it was.

My boyfriend didn’t visit me for the whole
of while recovering.
I hurt still.

The day before I turned 19 I got a tattoo.
my dad didn’t talk to me for a few days
my mom smiled.
she had always wanted one.
a rose to cover her breast cancer scars.

I am sad for my mother. and bitter at the
manipulation and the words
she tried to use to get me away
from the one boy I loved

I want to tell her the things I can’t
I’m sorry for the distance I feel
by her mistakes and most of all
for the tears I caused her and
her, me at the thought of it.

My mom doesn’t think her kids love her.
I do.