Drained
Laura Zapico

remember how it felt
when you learned you were pregnant
and your man said he’d support you
no matter your choice
but then changed his mind

when he threatened you
with an M-16
lit off rounds in the yard
in front of your five-year-old son
and you had to find a way to explain

when you filed a restraining order
but he came over anyway
ripped the front door off the hinges
broke the family pictures
and hid down the street when the sheriff came

when he said he would do anything
to make your life miserable
and stayed true to his word
until he met another woman
and moved on

then when you are alone
imagine your heart is a wound
from which truth bleeds
and bleed
until you are drained