why some children stop loving when they become adults

there is no such thing as "mothers" in my home.
none of us are born; we just begin to be,
raised by fathers who are still just children themselves.

there is no such thing as "mothers" here,
only sons and daughters and brothers and sisters
and siblings and fathers and the ghost of a husband.

there is no such thing as "mothers",
only questions left unanswered and roles left unfulfilled
and the quiet voice that tells you it will always end like this -

self preservation:
"never again."