A Light at the End of the Tunnel

A poem based on the life of a friend of mine:

The sun has risen a while ago
Unlike the youngster still in bed.
Though her soul's already been returned,
She still clutches onto the embers of sleep.

But a harsh voice breaks out suddenly,
Dispelling the rosy dreams.
She must get up NOW,
And begin another miserable day.

She sits up and yawns,
Then mumbles her thanks to her G-d.
The short sentence is recited bitterly
For her heart does not agree with it.

She stands up and runs to the window,
Which she stands at wistfully day after day
She enjoys observing the outside world,
But she oughtn't to spend too much time there.

With a sigh, she turns around
And heads for the dark, brown closet.
She reaches for the very plain, navy skirt
And takes a pink blouse to match.

She doesn't think this outfit will do her much.
In fact, she finds it very ugly.
But it's what Mummy said she is to wear.
And what Mummy says, she MUST do.

It doesn't matter if she's unwilling
Or if all her friends are doing it differently.
It's not important that she's scorned at
Or that she's like the nerd of the class.

Its because her home is unique.
Being its full of different rules.
There are a lot of them, a little too much
For a girl barely nine years old.

Today there is no school
It'll be vacation for the next eight weeks
How she'll survive, she doesn't know
She wonders how she did it every other year

While her friends are building sandcastles,
She'll have to do with the park's sandpit.
The friends in town with her are cheering in day camp.
Its too bad Daddy isn't fond of such things.

She shuffles down the stairs
And gives a wan smile to her brother
Her mother murmurs a 'good morning'
She doesn't bother to reply

Her siblings eat their breakfast in silence.
After all, it's rude to talk while eating.
She used to believe in that and think of it as normal.
Until she started observing REAL life around her

A life where Mummies smile very often
And the Daddies aren't screaming
Where big brothers don't hide white envelopes
And sisters don't cry every day

She wishes for some affection
Even a small peck on the cheek
Or a hug, a kiss, anything!
Why can't she be loved like all her friends?

Her siblings and herself don't love her parents.
In fact, you could say they hate them.
She knows it shouldn't be like that.
But one can't control emotions.

Its because she musn't do this
And she isn't to DARE try that.
And no, she can't go to that event.
She eventually gave up asking.

Her house is always dark.
It gives a gloomy atmosphere.
Well actually, even if it were bright,
It wouldn't help her cheerless home much.

The young girl prays quietly
Then closes her siddur with a sigh.
She thinks of how she'll spend the day ahead
She knows it won't be too exciting.

She chooses an interesting book
But just as she's getting comfortable,
Her name is being called
Mummy needs her help RIGHT now.

Like this day, goes the rest of the summer
With each day passing at an agonizing slow pace
She counts the hours to when school restarts
For she misses her six hour escape.

*

The nine year old is in a good mood now
For it is the first day of a brand, new term
She dives right in her work and essays
She loving every moment.

Schoolwork may be difficult.
In fact, sometimes very hard.
But she is on an advanced level.
She's been learning since she was very young.

As such, the years drift by.
One hard one following the next.
Her one hope in her bleak life is marriage
When she'll take that final step outside her front door.

Before she knows it, she's fifteen years old.
A mature girl having gone through so much
And now, her dreams are becoming rosier
As news of her older friend's engagements reach her.

She thinks of the constant arguing at home
Between herself and her parents.
They somehow just don't see through her eyes.
As if they ever did.

She counts the constant punishments for 'rebelling'.
Grounding, no lunch, missing three whole days of school.
And her classmates' whispered discussions
Which were undoubtedly about her 'mysterious' life.

Her teachers call her sweet.
Her friends label her quiet.
Her mother names her 'the mad one'
Her father acknowledges her as 'insane.'

Her opinion of rebellious teens and her parents's say,
Differ greatly in many ways.
Is wanting plastic glasses wrong?
Does feeling anger mean you're crazy?

Apparently, saying "no thanks" is ungrateful
And sleeping till nine is lazy.
The list of their ideas is endless
She has yet to reach it.

Half a decade slips away
And now, it's her nineteenth birthday.
Dating begins in earnest.
Her dreams are finally moving forward.

It is six long months later
That she meets the guy at last
She knows from the start that he's the one.
She feels 'the loving feeling'...

Well, it seems he felt the same way
As they announce their engagement two short weeks later
Her face is radiant, it's literally glowing.
She can't believe her luck.

*

The young bride picks her foot up gingerly
While lifting her dress from the dusty floor.
She is getting married today.
She is leaving home.
Forever.

She steps back and gazes at her home.
The home that hid her many tears.
She feels sad for a second
As she remembers the seemingly never-ending pain.

But then she brightens as she realizes what she's wearing.
She's a bride. She's getting married TODAY.
The next time she'll be here will be a visit.
She is free. And free she shall remain.