They Did It Again... Poem by DiAnne Douglass

A phone call in the middle of the night
Slowly, I open my eyes and stare groggily at the ceiling
I turn my head to face the luminescent light of my alarm clock
It's barely 3 AM
I answer my vibrating cell, praying it's not who I think it is
The sobbing voice on the line says it is
I calm my friend down with gentle words and a soft voice

They. Did. It. Again.

Another call waking restless sleep
Another sleepless night
I promise to be there in minutes
I hold my head in my hands as I hang up

They. Did. It. Again.

Why doesn't she just leave?
Nothing good can come of living there
Especially since they're at it again

I quickly dress and sneak out the apartment window
Mom's gonna be pissed in the morning
But what else can I do?
A quick drive and I'm at the house

Again.

I climb up the tree outside her window
And jump through the open glass

Again.

The sound of heated bickering echoes through the halls

Again.

They're at it again
Her black eye and tear stained face tell me as much
A quick pack of the always ready duffle bag and we're ready to go
Yet again
I help her out the window and down the tree

Again.

Sounds out breaking glass shatter the silent night
They did it again
Her parents are in a drunken rage
Again
They're probably throwing bottles at each other
Again

I usher her into the truck, throwing the duffle bag in the bed
Again
A quick drive and we're home again
I usher her into my room and watch her collapse on my bed
A quick glance at the alarm shows the time
I wince, knowing the coming argument in 2 hours
Mom really won't like this

A groan slips out and I sink into the living room couch
Sweetbox plays on my iPod, lulling me to sleep
How ironic that the song is 'Sorry'
Another restless night on the couch makes my philosophical

It's off to school now, a few short hours later
My friend doesn't even try to cover up the black eye today
I'm secretly glad, that will make everything easier
Firetrucks pass the house as we get ready to leave

An announcement later on that day drags us both into the office
It seems her parents had gotten into a huge fight, the principle says
Again
All the broken glass and alcohol were an accident waiting to happen
Some time this early morning the house had caught ablaze
They'd died in the flames, it seems

I hold back a smile, knowing the truth
About the lone figure who had climbed through the window
An hour after we had left
Who had tried to reason with the parents
How the parents had attacked the figure
And how the figure had gotten revenge for all the injustice

Now, I would never have to say those words again

They. Did. It. Again...