The Window
By Jan Taber
The little girl stands by the window.
Her blue and white beachbag holds her new bathing suit.
When Daddy and Donna come to take her to the beach,
They will be so happy to see her new things.
She has flip flops that match her pink swim suit,
And a pink striped towel that she and Foster Mommy found at the store.
The golden sunlight fades,
Is replaced by dusk, then darkness.
She will not leave the window.
They're coming, she knows they wouldn't forget.
Maybe they were in an accident,
Or Daddy had to work.
She'll call to make sure this was the right day.
Foster Mommy calls, there's no answer.
Now she knows they had an accident on their way to pick her up.
Tears slide down her face as Foster Mommy tucks her in bed.
Her bed is actually a tiny couch, although she has a new white bed with a canopy in her room.
It's still to scary to sleep in her room so she sleeps by Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy's door at night
Hoping the police won't come again and take her away in the night.
Wakes screaming so often and asks Foster Mommy if the "cops " will come and give her candy again.
Years later, a beautiful young woman,
She remembers waiting, the pink flip flops now gone along with the towel and suit.
Daddy and Donna aren't even together anymore.
Mommy has other babies with her
Why did she keep them and not her?
Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy are now Mommy and Daddy.
But still she looks through the now invisible window.
Waiting for them to come.
Unable to accept what she has,
Unable to love those who love her,
Until the small child at the window has healed.
Her broken heart open to love.
