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