Footsteps To Freedom

I Heard this poem for the first time when I was sitting in a group at the House of Ruth. I do not know who wrote it and the orator never told us. She just wanted us to hear the poem. She read it twice. I was there in the room, but I was the author of this poem. Each stanza made my heartbeat faster. I closed my eyes trying to envision myself running way instead of accepting flowers. But I could not. We all want our flowers when we can still smell them….

“I got flowers today…It was not my birthday or any other special day.

We had our first argument last night, and he said a lot of cruel things that really hurt me. I know he is sorry and did not mean the things he said…because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today…It was not our anniversary or any other special day. Last night, he threw me into a wall and started to choke me. It seemed like a nightmare. I could not believe it was real. I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over. I know he must be sorry because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today…It was not Mother’s Day or any other special day. Last night, he beat me up again. And it was much worse than other times. If I leave him, what will I do? How will I take care of my kids? What about money? I am afraid of him and scared to leave. But I know he must be sorry because he sent me flowers today. I got flowers today. Lots of them. Today was incredibly special. It was the day of my funeral. Last night he finally killed me. He beat me to death. If only I have gathered the courage and strength to leave him, I would not have gotten flowers today. REAL MEN DO NOT HIT!