Her ears rang with his constant shouting.
Drained and exhausted.
Her body betraying all natural instinct.
She doesn’t know how much longer she can hold on.

His voice sent shudders throughout her.
Screaming at her endlessly.
Her head nodding side to side in silence.
Why won’t he stop?

What does he want?
What does he expect?
She failed.
She let everyone down.

If only he would stop yelling at her.
Doesn’t he know she is more disappointed in herself?
What good does it do to keep reminding her?
She ached for silence and a place to hide.

But she can’t hide from him.
He finds her.
Then he starts again.
Relentless.

“Get up” he whispered.
“I will never give up on you” he said.
“There is no shame in falling” from behind his smile.
“Only in not rising” she read in his eyes.

His words urging her on.
Each whisper like thunder in her head.
Holding her. Loving her.
He won’t let her give up.

Not ever.