hair curled
mascara clumped beyond belief
deep brown eyes practically closing
turquoise polo
horse in the corner
fake crystalline necklace
dark blue knee skirt
***** white tights
too big flats

the cusp of eleven years old
going to her first concert
philip philips
austin mahone
owl city
kissmas bash

dancing
singing
crowded souls

bladder filling up
desperately searching
for relief
wandering aimlessly
alone

relief at last
walking back
pep in her step
alone

hands grip her sides
big hands
looking up
burly bear
stranger

"shush,
little one,"
bear whispers,
"it's alright."

so she does
confusion
spreads through her

eleven years old
exposed
shattered
never the same

big bear
got away
completely okay
while
goldilocks
breaking down
forever