Camila dips a toe into the black A ring of water sears upon her skin She knows at once she cannot venture back until she tames the beast that lurks within She’s grown familiar with its poison kiss, The fragile light corrupted by its shade, Yet if one truth exists, she thinks it this: Camila’s fought too long to be afraid She winces as her knuckles sear and scar But, trem'bling, she does not cease her descent She casts her burning eyes into the tar and spies the beast, head hung and elbows bent, but startles when the beast cries out in song Its voice had been Camila’s all along