Finding Family in the Absence of a Father

I used to stare at windows, waiting for a man, who'd show up with open arms and say,

"I'm here. I can." But my father signed his name and walked out of my life.

Left me with questions that cut sharper than a knife. And the man who came after,

he never called me mine, only handed me a belt and said I'd learn in time.

But love shouldn't hurt. It shouldn't make you hide. I was just a kid

who needed someone on my side. I wanted a dad who'd love me, hold my heart when

it was breaking. Spend the time, protect the child he helped to bring into the world.

But all I got were empty rooms and lessons taught with cruelty. And somehow through