the summer she turned 21,
she met him for the first time

with his promises of new
beginnings and sanctuaries
that she had always dreamed
of, it was no wonder she was
****** in so quickly
enamoured by all that he was

oh she had flirted with him
so many times before,
when times seemed bleak
he was always her release
in her search for something
new

so many told her
"leave him behind," for he
was bad news. they disliked
his promises, veiled with
consequences black as
midnight, black as the shawl
she wore to her father's funeral

but he was tempting
yes, he was, with eyes
that beckoned, carefully
allowing her a glimpse
of the galaxies behind them
dark galaxies that ******
her soul right into them

so she relented, allowing
herself to be drawn in
finally sinking into
his arms, sighing against
his cold unmoving chest
his stiff arms and his
lifeless eyes

the summer she turned 22,
they found her smiling
in the arms of death