Dear Elizabeth

Ten Summers Ago

My Dearest Liz,

Tomorrow you leave, tomorrow you will try to forget,

You are leaving behind a house painted with memories to regret,

All those tragic events are still engraved in your little mind,

The times Daddy came home drunk, the things that happened to you and you never told a soul,

How could you have defended yourself if you weren't even nine?

Let's not talk about it, I say, therefore we shall not,

We will save such subject for later on,

At the moment, I want to talk to you about other things,

Like the fact that today is your very last day,

Tomorrow you leave to another country,

Leaving behind everything you've ever known,

And all the people you thought you loved,

Dad thinks it's the best,

Mom has come back, waiting for you and Dad in the US,

You are beyond ecstatic, it's been a long, dreadful year,

But you finally get to see and hug Mom, with your smile from ear to ear,

It's funny...remembering all the things Dad did after Mom left,

He would do laundry, he would "cook", and he even tried to brush your hair,

Your long, black, curly hair, which back then,

Looked a bit like Mom's did,

Shame on you, Liz,

 In many years from now,

That black hair will be gone, it will become a mess,

But oh well, it's not like Mom will be there to care,

You've got a long road ahead of you,

A new school, new teacher, and new friends,

You will live with your sister while Dad finds a nice house,

A house where a new life will start, with both husband and wife,

Don't be nervous, don't be scared,

But I do warn, please beware!

Something strange will be going on with Mom,

Has she really left her selfish feelings behind?

What would you say if I, myself, say this:

After you see Mom, maybe her presence will be short-lived?

Yours truly,

                 A 19-year old Liz