The Night the Truth Stayed Silent
The road was long, the night was cold,
A stranger walked into the town.
His coat was torn, his hat pulled low,
His weary eyes fixed on the ground.
The streets lay still, the lamps burned low,
Behind locked doors, all lay at rest.
But in the bar, the glasses clinked,
As whiskey warmed the sleepless guests.
He stepped inside, the room fell hush,
All eyes turned to the man unknown.
The barkeep waved, a drink was poured,
The others waited, minds of stone.
The stranger’s eyes scanned the room,
A heavy silence filled the air.
Then with a grin, he broke the silence,
And spoke of things they couldn’t bear.
His words came slow, smooth as a river,
Yet something in them didn’t sit right.
The townsfolk listened, stiff and still,
Their knuckles clenched a bit too tight.
The stranger laughed, he earned their trust,
With tales wrapped in a web of lies.
But something felt a little off,
The townsfolk’s eyes, suspicious ties.
Thirteen years ago, the town had cried,
A life was lost, but no one spoke.
The ones who drank beneath that roof,
Knew too much, but never broke.
The night was thick, the air turned cold,
Footsteps echoed down the street,
The town waited, hearts racing.
Flames sparked as they moved
The town stood still, no one dared speak,
Fingers twitching, hearts filled with dread.
Questions hung heavy in the air,
But silence was the answer they all fed.
Around the stranger’s door they gathered,
Questions burning, voices loud.
But just before the truth could spill…
The lights went out, a shot was heard.
Torches blazed in trembling hands,
Their fire dancing in the night.
A wounded man dragged trembling limbs,
His breath was short, his face was white.
He crawled through dirt, his body weak,
The stranger followed, close behind.
The town stood still, a waiting hush,
Their fear mixed with a troubled mind.
From the crowd, a voice rang clear,
“Are you the one who took Charles all those years ago?”
The killer stopped and turned his head,
“Yes, I was. And now, I’m back again.”
The crowd stood still,
Hearts filled with fear,
Some eyes heavy with pain and tears,
As they waited for what would appear.
A man stepped forward, voice full of fear,
“What will you do now, with the truth revealed?”
The killer’s smile grew cold and wide,
“I’ll leave it to you to keep it sealed.”
The crowd moved forward, filled with rage,
He couldn’t escape
One stepped forward, not a coward that night,
A finger curled, the aim set right.
With one shot, the killer fell,
And in that moment, his life was done.
As the torches dimmed, the town stood still.
John stepped forward, his voice calm,
“The truth’s been spoken, no more fear.”
A voice quivered, “Is it really over?”
John’s gaze held steady, “It’s done. We move on.”
Copyright © Naima Ybarra-Fernando | Year Posted 2025
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