the shell of a girl walks
in purposeless, ceaseless motion
if she stops the world ends
or at least hers crumbles

look into her empty eyes
see her hollowed out mind
she can’t see you anymore
but touch and she shatters

always on the edge
a group, her life, her mind
no energy left to fight
she is pushed, pulled, controlled

to feel something just once
she carved out her heart
let ghosts settle in her ribs
because she thinks she deserves it.

*© Tara India.