Pieces Scattered

By Hope Kostedt

he broke her, little by little

small enough cracks, that no one could completely tell until eventually she fell entirely apart

those small cracks finally making her come undone

he broke her

with the control he had, the guilt he bestowed, the lies he spun

he broke her

with the false love, petty lies and underlying schemes

he broke her

with the manipulation and constant fighting

with his antics, with his words

he broke her

he took her energy and her thoughts and her will, and he shattered it

her cares and loves and anxieties and passions all lay strewn about and forgotten

he broke her, little by little

and then she was broken

and he didn’t know what to do besides stomp on the pieces scattered beneath his feet

By Hope Kostedt