A Mother-Daughter Relationship

From the outside we are
one, connected at the hip
with DNA strands coursing from
body to body.

Like nutrients flowing to the
womb, we appear healthy. Like
fireplaces, hot cocoa, and books,
we seem warm.

But I live in a two story house where
the story on top only occasionally
collides with the story
below.

And the stories create friction
like pain during childbirth, scratches
on scabbed knees and elbows, scars from
too much or not enough
talking.