There lived a girl, average and plain
nothing special about her aside from her naivete-
foolishly believing all people were good,
loving and trusting everyone she met.

She found types of love as she grew,
picking them like wildflowers
witnessing them bloom and die
pricking her soft little fingers on the same thorns
again and again
each time hoping the bloom would last forever
and crying her poor little heart out when it didn't

She wandered through life
wondering why evil triumphed over good
why kind-hearted people were hurt by heartless ones
never truly finding an answer
year after year

She grew into a woman,
cautiously edging away from innocence
eyes forced wide open with a heavy dose of heartbreak
the betrayal and sadness created anger that lurked in her belly

In the midst of winter she tasted lust
spiced and warm with a strong embrace
allowing it to carry her into a darker realm where numb pleasure ruled
faith was a memory, hope flickered

No longer white as snow
she marveled at how well she now fit
into the world slowly being devoured by shadows.