JLH

“We don’t need you in this family”
his words hung in the air
the bitterness
the sting
my body sat awkwardly upright
my soul was laid out beneath
The breath
caught in my throat
A father-in-law led the attack
A mother-in-law sat in accepting silence
accepting his words…not me
I was useless
thrown-out
worthless
childless
“But I tried…I have scars” I sputtered
Four losses
Two surgeries
No sympathy
No grandchildren
Only disappointment
after disappointment
after disappointment
after disappointment
Until they were done with me
Discarded
Banished the barren woman
Years passed
I stood at his grave
looking down into the silence
Letting go of the words
the pain
Realizing that it had been his problem
Not mine