The mother wonders

where her innocent daughter went.

She wonders when

her daughter started closing the door

before she went to bed.

She wonders why her daughter

hid the nightmares from her, instead

of snuggling up against her 

in the middle of the night.

And the mother wonders why

her daughter distanced herself from her mommy.

She wonders when her daughter

drew the line in the sand

to seperate them from each other.

But most of all, the mother wonders

where her daughter is now

and why she left.

The mother wonders

if it is her fault that her daughter

is gone.

Maybe, she thinks,

if I had been more open with her,

she wouldn't be gone.

Maybe, she wonders,

if I had sat down with her,

and talked with her,

she wouldn't be gone. 

Maybe, she questions herself,

if I had said yes,

more than I said no,

she would still be here.

The mother can ponder the reasons

why her daughter left,

but deep-down,

she knows,

her daughter isn't coming back.