the arrival

I look at you warily
And wait with bated breath.
Ready to break when the next cruel word,
Barks forth from your lips.

A regular occurrence now,
Where once was only upon occasion.
How times changes these things,
And now the next assault from your verbal arsenal.

I used to hang on your every word,
Now I flinch away from them.
So much sharper than the knife
And always a keener aim.

I long for the people we once were,
Did we grow up or grow apart?
Tension mounts as you prepare to speak,
“Hello, I‘m home”.