I stand before the grey flowing river, listless hands clutched to my chest
Tracing the pattern of my silent heart
There are no reflections here

The wind mourns in loud sighs, whipping the gauze of my white dress around my ankles
It yanks my hair, the willow cries its branches bare

I barely flinch at the sudden ice of his touch
His arms tightly squeeze mine, his hands suffocating my heart
A pressure so familiar now, I melt to him
I am so tired now-

He is shaking me
Lovely little one, Death whispers through my ears
You have to see the world beyond your eyelashes

His fingers twitch and my heart electrifies
My world convulsing with color
I don't want to go I sob
I want to stay with you
But to no avail
He walks away, never looking for me over his shoulder

And my body shudders for air

I watch my eyelashes flutter in my vision and remind myself
How to breathe
Yet it does not take away the fear

For what if I open my eyes and there is nothing else there?
For what if there is no world anymore beyond the river, the willow and the boy I call death?

I have to try I decide
A sharp sliver of light cuts through my vision
And I remember

*I really am alive