“the way she died was not unexpected at all. this was very expected and it was going to happen sooner than later. she knew that deep down she couldn’t stay alive; not even for astrid’s sake.”

after the first foster home,
the second one felt brand new
it was quiet and calm
something astrid sure neeeded
after all that happened to her.

when she met claire
she quickly observed
how soft and tender
her voice sounded
it soothed her to listen
every movement claire made
with her lips to speak
was so delicate you wanted a kiss.

they spent every day together
there was never a day either of them
didn’t have a smile on their faces
and that was until claire’s husband
finally came back from
being out of town.

did he think that coming back
would make her happy
after the numerous times he’s done it?
he was always back and forth
twenty-four hours, seven days a week.
claire needed him to stay with her
she was tired of him leaving all the time
but thank god for astrid now
it’s up to her to fill claire’s void for now.

astrid’s mother knew all about claire
some of it from the letters
astrid wrote to her and some
she figured out on her own.
when astrid went to visit her
at the jail cell,
her mother was no longer hers
but now, it was claire
she took over her mother’s spot
and claimed it for...