The night disturbed her

She looked around

A faint light inside the wardrobe caught her eye

She was drawn to it

Maybe the reflection off the street lights

She heard the voice

Raindrops in her mind

Pleading, don’t **** me

Please, don’t **** me

She awoke screaming

The same dream, night after night.

The thought haunted her at dusk

The piercing pain

The soothing voice of the nurse

Hurt so bad, she wanted to die

A part of her was gone

Her reflection shattered

Pieces too small to put back together

The nagging loneliness

The choking guilt

Rivers running down her face

Mum, why do I see myself in a dream

You don’t, you see your sister

She’s  eleven minutes younger than you

She  died within hours after birth.

                                                 Paul  Gaffney & Lily Nurmi.