The tale begins with a mother
And daughter quietly conversing
About this topic and that.

A peculiar interruption stops
The pair’s flow of words.

“Look Mom, I’m a mermaid!”
My eldest sister announced while
Shaking her rotund rear in proximity
To my mother’s face.

She immediately scampers off
To the kitchen while we look at
Each other with astonishment,
Neither knowing what just took place.

Laugher, of course, ensues.

The self-proclaimed mermaid wanders
Back to the giggling pair. I mention
Her new status and a look of
Puzzlement appears on her face.

She professes ignorance, denying
Such a thing ever happened. There
Was no convincing her of the truth.

Even now, she believes we made
Up the whole tale. But I know
She cannot renounce her actions that
Day. For she will always be thought
Of as a mermaid to me.

How dare you tease
Me, Weather. A week of
Sun and warmth so early
Only to be snatched away
And replaced with gloom
And ice.

The sun may be shining, but
No, you can’t trick me. I know
The bitter wind that swirls with
The rays.

I’d make a deal with you
If I thought it would do any
Good, but you refuse to be
Reasonable.

You’ve held on to winter
For far too long, I think.
Aren’t you tired of it? A little
Spring would be a nice change,
Don’t you think?

No, you like seeing people
Shovel off their cars and fall
On the thick ice you produce.

I’m sorry Weather, but I
Can’t be friends with you
Anymore until you learn to
Play nice.

I’ll talk to you when you
Decide it’s finally time for
Spring.

I hate that moment when
Reality hits me. A cold slap
In the face.

Our goodbyes were said and
Hugs given, but now, now is
When I realize.

I cannot see you tomorrow
Or the next day. I cannot greet
You as you walk through my
Front door with a kiss and a smile.

We must wait. Always wait
For the next break to come.
And when it arrives, briefly
Does it stay.

It seems I must remind
Myself that time does indeed
Move, however slowly at
Times, and soon back in my
Embrace you will be.

You reek.
No really, you do.
I know you can hardly
Tell since your habit has
Dulled your sense of smell,
But trust me on this one.

I sit on the bus everyday
Hoping the one who decides
To sit in front of me isn't
One of you people.

The scent that exudes from
Your body and clothes hits
My nose and stomach
Once the bus starts to move.

There's no escape from it
And I know I'll get off after
You. I try to breathe through
My gloves, but that doesn't
Give me much air.

I see you reach up, pull
The yellow cord, and ding!
Sweet relief is on it's way!

You slowly make your
Way off the bus and I'm
Finally able to take a deep
Breath of, well, fresher air.

We're in a house,
Apparently ours, and
I'm smashing your things
You've never seen,
You're smashing my things
I've never seen.

A crack is made by your
Closed fist on a tank containing
Unidentified carnivores of the sea.

The tank very nearly emptied it's
Contents, but the scene changed.
A bear now terrorized the house.
Furniture stood in the way between
It and the upstairs where you'd
Find us hiding.

Someone fell through the fragile wooden
Floor, not sure if they made it.

Ripping the screen from the window,
We made it out, but the bear was still inside.

I was being pursued. By the bear?
Unclear. I knew it was different though,
For I was soaked and outside, begging
admittance into a stranger's house.

New dry clothes were found
In the bathroom. I found it
Strangely difficult to change.

I had to get out. He was in the house
Already. How does he always find me?

A station wagon with a man and son
was my getaway car. But I just couldn't
Get away. Somehow they knew I didn't
Belong there. We were being tracked.

Then ****. The car, the man, the boy,
All gone. What's left was me on the
Road with the pursuer fast approaching.

Some things just
have a way of hurting
all over again.

My heart turns into
A rock in my chest,
Weighing me down,
Every pump a struggle.

I hope I'm just being
Paranoid. I wouldn't be
Able to take it if I'm not.

Okay, move on, I tell myself.

The past ***** sometimes.

Many a nights I
Find myself trying
To catch sleep through
A steady stream of tears,

But sleep eludes me.

The increased heart beats
Pound my chest too loudly.
My breathing is too uneven.

My mind wanders back to
The reason for the tears and
It starts all over again.

If, as you say, I’m not allowed
To cry, then give me reason not to.

Perhaps that is too much to
Ask for. Perhaps not.

As my light dims, I finish.
Finish with my thoughts,
Finish with my tears. But
Not, alas, for the search for sleep.