CRAZY OVER YOU

I sleep in silence, dream in fear,

She breaks me down when no one's near.

A smile I fake, a bruise I hide,

But no one sees the tears I've dried.

You call it home, I call it war,

Each breath I take hurts more and more.

She wears a crown of cruel disguise,

While I hold back my lullaby cries.

---

Georgiana's voice cut through the house like a knife. "Queenie!" The sound made her jump, and the towel in her hands dropped into the sink with a wet slap.

Her heart started pounding. She grabbed another towel, wiping her hands fast while trying to breathe. When Goregina called like that, with that mean edge to her voice, you didn't keep her waiting.

Queenie ran to the sitting room, her bare feet quiet on the wooden floors. Each step felt heavy, like she was walking toward something bad.

"Good morning, Mother," she whispered, head down. Her throat felt tight. She couldn't look at Georgina - not today, not ever if she could help it. Last time she looked her stepmother in the eye, what happened after still hurt.

Georgina sat in that big leather chair that seemed to suck up all the light. Her black nightgown made her look cold and mean. When she looked at Queenie, the whole room felt smaller.

"How dare you call me mother?" Georgina's voice was sharp like glass. "Did I tell you to call me that? You think I'd give birth to something worthless like you?" The words hit Queenie in the chest. "You're useless, and now you think I want to hear that awful voice?"

Queenie's body went stiff. The words hurt worse than any slap. She fought not to cry, knowing it would only make things worse. "I'm sorry, I won't do it again," she whispered, barely making a sound.

Georgina got up slow, walking around Queenie like she was circling prey. Her heels clicked on the floor, loud in the quiet room. Queenie's stomach twisted but she stayed still.

"I still don't get why my husband kept you here," Georgina said, walking past her again. "Why didn't he just throw you out? You're nothing to me, and you always will be." She stopped in front of Queenie, eyes mean and narrow. "That's why your mother left you, isn't it? She knew what you really were."

Queenie felt like she couldn't breathe. Georgina had said this before, but it always hurt. Her throat got tight and her eyes burned, but she swallowed the tears down. Crying was just weakness waiting to be used against you.

"You'll never be anything, Queenie," Georgina whispered harsh. "You don't even belong here."

That was it. The final hit. Queenie's heart felt like it cracked, but she couldn't show it. Her fingers twisted together so tight her nails dug into her skin. She buried the hurt deep inside where no one could see it. Georgina's words kept playing in her head. *You're nothing.*

It was true.