Artemis

As a little girl, I felt his seething teeth. They appeared as a smile but dripped like a wolf.
His hatred masked in intellect and strained composure. Justified in title, gender and societal perception.

Time Passed

And without effort, I grew into a young woman. And the buds of my breasts were met with disgust.
His rage grew, alongside my feminine mind, body and spirit;  and in unison my own inner battle.
Destruction or ascension?

Time soon passed.

I became woman and mother. I stacked his wood, set his table and held the heart of the family close.
Even setting my children on his knee; girls like me.
Could they make him see – me?

And then that dreaded day arrived.

Dark in nature, buried in deep intent. I opened this box and closed my eyes.
Fearing that same canine hot breath on my the back of my nck under a damp cold moon.

Father, he was never meant to be.