Silent Pages

Peace keeps her shoes by the door So she can leave without

a sound

Dad's voice crashes through the walls Her stepmom turns the volume down

She says she's fine,

she says okay But every word cuts underneath

Then she hides inside her room And tries to learn how not

to breathe

The house is loud,

but all she hears Is one name fading in her phone

Braxton, I wish you were here

I hate feeling this alone

I'm Peace,

but I don't feel peaceful tonight

I'm holding back a storm with both hands tight They yell,

and I break where nobody can see Then I miss you,

Braxton, like you're the only part of me If I could see

you, I would tell you the truth Every hard day gets softer

when I'm close to you I'm Peace,

but I'm losing sleep

Missing the boy I barely get to see

She counts the days between their plans And watches his name light

her screen A little heart,

a little hope

The closest thing to being seen Downstairs,

another fight begins The same old blame,

the same old heat

She turns her music up too loud To keep their voices off

the beat

She knows tomorrow comes too fast And still she waits for one

good sign

Braxton, I replay the past Just to pretend that you are mine

I'm Peace,

but I don't feel peaceful tonight

I'm holding back a storm with both hands tight They yell,

and I break where nobody can see Then I miss you,

Braxton, like you're the only part of me If I could see

you, I would tell you the truth Every hard day gets softer

when I'm close to you I'm Peace,

but I'm losing sleep

Missing the boy I barely get to see

Maybe one day I'll leave this room With more than silence in

my chest Maybe love won't feel so far Maybe I won't have

to hide the rest

Until then, I'll say your name

Like a small light I can keep When this house takes everything

You remind me I'm still me

I'm Peace,

and I will make it through tonight

Even if I'm shaking,

even if

I cry They yell,

but they don't get to decide who I'll be And I miss

you, Braxton, but I'm learning to hold on to me If I

could see you, I'd tell you the truth You make the worst

days feel like something I can move through

I'm Peace, and I'm finding sleep

Still missing the boy I barely get to see

But I'm more than what they say to me