I was quiet

I was quiet as you squeezed my hand
Hard enough to make the bones crack
And you told me to shut up


I was quiet as you told another lie
About your endless failures
And diminished my successes


I was quiet as you picked the lock
To the room in which I'd taken refuge
And forced your way in
To demand closure that would never come


I was quiet as you stripped myself from me
To make me small enough to fit inside your palm
The only safe size for you to be
Good enough to yourself


I was quiet as you joked at parties
That you would leave me
If I became pregnant
And chose to carry to term


I was so quiet
They thought me nearly mute
A background murmur
Behind the scrim you'd built before me
Playing the role you'd written yourself
At center stage


They saw through you
Your performance hollow
Believed mine
Because fear is convincing
But I don't want the accolade
My voice is good enough