She used to be strong, used to stand her ground.
        She used to be loud, used to raise her voice.
        She used to grab people with her words, lift them with her song.
        
        Not Anymore.
        
        Her Crimson hair would shine,
        Her flushed cheeks would stand out against her porcelain skin as it glowed.
        Her Brown eyes captured you and held you with all the compassion they showed.
        
        Not Anymore.

        Not for quite some time.

        Now, Her features dulled from years of hopelessness,
                 Her hair a steely gray,
                 She lives alone, afraid.

         Afraid to get to close.
         Afraid to have a family.
         Afraid to love.

        Those were the family values bestowed upon her.

        She looks back on her life,
         
        And finally realizes something her broken family never could have taught her.

        She could have been different.
        She wasn't them.