alone, alone
alone is she
not even a whisper
to calm her fears
they talk about her
as if she were
property
their chilling words
pierce her ears
every catastrophic day

she has but one friend
faceless
limbless
speechless

escorted by fear
walks to her hiding place
claustrophobic
candle light
icy cement floor
low ceilings
no windows
pulling open a rusted drawer
places her trembling hand inside
lets her shining companion out
glimmering in the light

pushing down
down so hard
releasing hidden pains
bleeding rivers
bleeding lakes

alone, alone
alone is she
nothing but a self-inflicted wound
to calm her fears