I see nothing but tears…
Streaming down a young face
Her eyes glassy and bloodshot
Tears spilling over and down
They run down her cheeks
Then slide down her neck
A constant flow
Down. Down.. Down…
Two shining rivers
They slide from her neck
And dampen her shirt
Blotching the color
So it matches her face:
Darkened and damp.
Her hands shake
Body quivering
A shaky intake of breath
Breaks the silence of her tears
The noise breaks the calm
And a sob escapes
And another…
And another…
I watch as she falls
Falls to her knees
She buries her face in her hands
And a soft wail escapes
The tears pour down
Tiny waterfalls…
She seems so frail…
Like she might break if I touch her…
But then she looks up
Uncovers her face
Determined to stand
To stand and not cry
Not cry…
Not cry..
Not cry.
Shakily she stands
And holds herself up
With the wall
And stares at me…
I stand and stare
I stare at myself in the mirror
And wipe away
The streaks of makeup
My face is tear-stained
My eyes are bloodshot
My body shakes as I breathe…
I take another rasping breath
And push away from the wall
Determined to stand on my own…
I look once more
At myself in the mirror
And then I walk
I walk away
Forcing myself not to turn back…
Never turn back…