she hides

under her bed

a bear in her trembling arms

his lopsided smile

the only comfort

 

a loud crash sounds

echoing in the empty house

the girl shudders

 

she shouldn’t be afraid

her friends aren’t afraid

so why should she

 

another crash sounds 

louder than the last

the bear can’t breath now

 

suddenly everything is bright 

then as a light gone out

it fades away

 

the door opens

her mother envelopes her in her arms

the smell of disinfectant on her scrubs

she finally feels safe

but it is just a dream

a mere wish

and wishes never really come true

 

11:57 

12:43

1:39 

the minutes tick by

the pounding grows louder still

and the dream doesn’t become a reality

 

3:56

the lock finally clicks 

the door opens

a woman walks through

she is beaten down

shaped by time

half asleep she stumbles up the stairs

 

“Mama?” the girl wonders

but the woman is fast asleep

the girl jumps

as the sky growls

she holds her bear tight

a tear rolls down her cheek 

and then she steels herself 

for the long night ahead