By: Karen O’Leary

3 trips to the ER
after mandatory
visits with dad.
Each ER visit
documents bruises
~~a pawn of divorce.
Mom can’t find help.
Despite the reports,
Social Services ignores
concerns as “overblown.”
“Boys get bruises,”
unwilling to protect
this child. He leaves,
looking numb.

Two weeks later,
an ambulance requests
a pediatric trauma code
Today, this “bruised”
child dies.