The Child Within

Beyond smiling lips carrying the sorrows of the past, behind the eyes' sparkle concealing the darkness of horrors still to last stares a stranger, young and kind. Yet she shows not her face for the stroke of death's caress extinguishes the aroma of her heart. Not for any sin, but tenderness so pure. For survival's sake, she died. Now her corpse haunts the corners of thought. Her laughter echoes throughout the years like the singing bird clipped of wings. Steel nerves creak with the rust formed by her tears and audibly a cry from her coffin screams. Perhaps her ghost will someday rest when justice to her grave is done, her tombstone placed to mark her existence and known in my reflection... Yes, I killed her. I murdered her in cold blood still flowing. Now she is vengeful, her dead heart still pounding.