18 Hours

18 hours of fear and pain
18 hours till someone came
Promises of love that turned to dust
Violence and pain, the bubble burst

Threatened with knives, stick, scissors and gun
Pushed and pulled, shouted, kicked and thumped
I have never felt so petrified
So alone, so exposed, my eyes open wide

Taken to see my babies asleep
Wondering and told, them I wouldn't keep
The next day was normal, the girls at school
A weird sense of normality ruled

Till later when he threatened the girls lives and mine
I knew right then it would not be fine

Did he mean it, I'd never know
Now safety was my only goal
A three pin plug to scar my face
He bought some flowers to save his grace

Who to save me or where to run?
The police were called, I knew they'd come
Safe at last, police and friends around
No one shouts or makes fearful sounds

Police with cameras, involved in crime
Victim, violence - the labels are mine
Trust is lost, forever gone
I will never forgive or forget what has been done

And now when I go to kiss them good night
I remember the time I was frozen with fright
I know what he did, his crime I can name
Now they are the sunshine and he is the rain.