Hopelessly Hopeful

Nadine Banks
Loving mother of two and wife of one
Gazes out of the second floor window
Lost in thought…Lost in hope
She sighed, “To honor and love him…”

Blatantly hearing the root of her misery in the next room.
Whispers of adultery, betrayal at its worst
Her eyes… numbed… bloodshot
         a pinkish red just like the sunset she looks out onto each night
…"To love and to cherish"…

For years Nadine sits in that very same chair
Listening…and watching…and crying. Alone.
Each moment tears another piece of her broken heart
Each whisper gawks louder at her failure as wife
…"For richer or poorer"…

Days are filled up with house chores,
Routine nonsense to drive away the chronic ache .
She and John barely speak no more.
Is this what you call a marriage?! Rage settles.
…"For better or for worse"…

She silently screams at the top of her lungs,
"It’s better for everyone this way…for the kids…they can’t find out!"
Nadine—Resting safely in denial as he lurks around with HER…his “other”
In denial that maybe he’ll change. She can only hope.
…"In sickness and in health"…

Nadine Banks
Hopelessly Hopeful
Till then, she will quietly wait in the very same chair…
Listening …and watching…and crying. Alone.
Alone she whispers, “…till death do us part.”