she walks
focused, undisturbed
empty roads once filled with life
touching the walls of her memory
searching for one more laugh
ignoring one more cry

she remembers
as clear as the sky
a boy blond as the sun
fast as a thousand horses
but couldn’t outrun death
she still wonders why

she hears
echoing in her ears
her father’s peaceful music
the gentleness in his voice
that made her feel at home
when leaving wasn’t a choice

she sees
her mother’s stern, blue eyes
above her big, warm heart
one that in such a world
she needed to hide
to play the part

she reads
from the very first page
words that opened up her eyes
ones that never leave her mind
for they remind her of the brother
she could never leave behind

she hopes
the world doesn’t forget
all that’s written in a book
for all she really wants
is to keep alive the people
she loved while she could