epilogue i
[October, 2016]
she waits up for him
at the edge of the night
wringing her hands
and her heart
to the sound of the
wailing
baby.
vera smelled of him
even though she’s
never
even
met
him.
and her eyes are green,
like his.
and her heart is large
like his
before the cigarette
smoke clouded his visions
of the future.
the door opens, and vera
suddenly
stops crying.
her mum lets her eyes wander up
long legs
that always seem to get caught on
the welcome mat.
and trail across the v-neck that
hides a work of art.
his curls are longer
and more
beautiful.
but he smells of abuse.
then again, all the Styles kids have smelled of abuse at one time
or another.
he starts crying.
so she does as well
and they embrace
like he never left.
vera giggles as she is lifted
and frowns when his tears
splash on her little
cheeks.
happy.
they were happy.
so maybe
messes can become
masterpieces.