**_Act 1_**

My heart pounds

Beating with every breath you take

With every blink of your eyes

You’re here now

Alive from my womb

Grasping at me with your small hands

Your frail body

It’s in my hands, safe and trusting

As you look at me with your big eyes

He’s gone, though

But you’re here, here with me

And I’ll take care of you with my Ma

Oh! Don’t cry

Mommy’s here with your food

Good girl, eating it all

Big girl, huh?

My sweetheart, braided hair, bright eyes and smile

Are you ready for school? Let’s see if grandma has your book bag.

You’re back, Dan

Stop! You’re scaring her!

_Don’t you touch her!_

Grandma fine

It’s alright, the police will take him away

How was your first day at school?

I’m sorry

For all the things that have happened

No, they aren’t your fault, don’t listen to him

It’s not your fault

**_Act 2_**

_It was fine_

_Yes, Mom, I ate all my lunch_

_No, Mom, everything was fine_

What you say

I don’t believe; you’re older now, I understand

But are you supposed to be this distant?

High school, huh

My sweet child, growing up

It hurts ever so, seeing you change from sweet to avoiding

It pains me

Little stabs in my chest

Seeing you ignore me, ignore your grandma

You don’t know

You spend all your time texting your father

Who treats you like a princess…a prostitute

Paying whenever

Whenever he wants you

Acting like the hero, the savior from your life with us

My heart fails

Sometimes it stops; it stutters

Is this what life is supposed to be?

Life with you

My sweet, sweet baby girl

I don’t want you to be harmed, manipulated

Please be okay

**_Act 3_**

Hospitals

Never thought I be inside one so early

You and Ma come and visit me everyday

You cry much

It warms my broken heart

It feels as though I can live another day—with you of course

Dan visits

….I have nothing to say

But you cry on his shoulder, the rat’s shoulder

Dan is scared

He doesn’t want me to die, not because he loves me, no

He doesn’t want to deal with you

My sweetheart

Brown eyes, curly hair, plump lips

I remember when you were a tiny infant, calm in my arms

The beeping

Why is it going slower—I know, I guess

I’m dying

Too early

My death is, I haven’t even reach the brink of life

I’ve only gotten a taste, a whiff

You stay here

Lying down next to me on a chair

Face relaxed in sleep, away from the tendrils of stress and anxiety

Teenagers

They shouldn’t have to deal with this

Especially not mine

Why? Why life?

Why must you take away?

Why can’t you give?

The beeping

It’s even slower

I feel my body relaxing to the point of nothing

You wake up

You scream my name, but I cannot see you

For my eyes are closed, my mouth open

My sweetheart

Be safe

Be kind

Be careful

I’ll watch over you

wherever i am

i promise

my sweet Hannah