hope

a word that sparkles, shimmers

as it dances before you
daring you to follow it
as if you had a choice
as if you had a chance

to just leave it

to just walk away

to leave it with its crestfallen eyes
sitting on the floor of your bedroom
where the papers are a mess
and the stories don’t make sense
anymore-

so you must pick it back up
and carry its weight

even as it mocks you
and your face flushes red
and your arms begin to ache
and you want to throw it across the room

and watch it shatter.