She can hear him again
around every corner
whispering in every thought
barking at her heels
brushing against her neck.

That summer will never leave
It’s rooted so deep
the very veins of its being
choke every nerve
every laugh
every reaction
every fall
every song
everything.

everything

She likes to pretend.
A new twist
on a childhood game.

but she knows
knows he hasn’t left
he runs his nails
              through her hair
                               before bed
then reads his favorite never ending bed time stories
worse than nightmares
worse than stench
worse than blood
worse than fear
never ending
never ending
never ending