Why?!

The 2 year-old cries, not knowing where they've gone.
The 4 year-old cries, not knowing what she's done.
The 6 year-old cries, "I promise I'll be good."
The 8 year-old cries, "please, no, not again."

The 10 year-old is silent, she knows to keep to herself.
The 12 year-old is frightened, for what will happen now?
The 14 year-old is angry, "yes, I was born just to aggravate."
The 16 year-old is aching to be on her own someday.

The 18 year-old is at home, she doesn't know how to leave.
The 20 year-old stays on, hoping she can make her see.
The 22 year-old is fighting, wanting to be loved.
The 24 year-old is confused, for why can't she be loved?

The 25 year-old is scared, for she must be one of the worst.
For why won't she love her, if not because she has no worth?
The 26 year-old is angry, she hates herself the most.
For no one can love her, not even herself.
The 27 year-old cannot cry, she knows not why.
All she knows is that within her, somewhere deep inside,
must be this little angel, some small part worthy of love,
For if there is none there, then there is no cause for her.

Realizing what must be done, knowing there will be no second chance,
because the pills didn't work, the bridge is her last and only chance.
As she stands at the top, staring into the deep dark black,
she tries to accept what must be, there is no looking back.
For no one can love her she thinks, "Not even me."
And so she swings her leg, prepared to fly into the deep.

A stranger, so caring and bright,
stops to save this scared person on this dark and fateful night.
She screams, she howls, "let me go, let me go!"
But as the police take her away, she knows now there is hope.

The 28 year-old still cries sometimes at night.
For there are so many questions, with no answers in sight.
She loves herself, more and more, though still she wonders clear,
Will her mother ever love her, or will the pain disappear?
Why was she abandoned, left so many times on her own?
Why did her father not love her, as surely he must have known,
that loving her would mean, he would have stopped the abuse,
for what father would stand by, while his daughter screams till mute?

She knows these questions may never be answered, this she must accept.
Until such time, she'll live her life, for now she knows it's a gift.
The love children have taught her, will show her the way,
and she knows that because of this love, she will find it someday.

The 2 year-old, the 8 year-old, the 14 year-old, where are they?
They all reside within her now, she has her own little army.
She knows that to love herself, she must accept them all,
And as she does, she knows she'll find that loving after all.