Little Wooden Swords

she talks about what he does to her.

she's the only one with the sense to be scared because she knows

but we growl and threaten and say angry things about how we're gonna beat him up and kill him and how he and she are gonna run away and get married

but none of it is real.

she comes crying, pleading, scared

and because we love her

we listen.

we're 13 and 14 and 15.

we're just stupid kids who dream of adventures and magic and worlds far beyond our own

where we are heroes and he saves her and i am their dutiful companion trailing behind

and where good always wins.

i hate it.

i want to her to be safe and happy.

i want to be a hero like the ones in the books and movies and tv shows.

but i'm just me.

weak minded, closed, fake.

who do i think i am?

i can't free her.

she's so afraid she won't let us.

he'll kill me, she says

he moves fast when he is angry.

please, please don't tell anyone!

and because we love her

we don't.

because at 13, 14, 15

there's nothing we can do.