footsteps placed carefully
alone in a dark stairwell
girl do you know if
the echoes are heard

sliding of gravel
cracking under bare touch
furling of fingers
clench the shivering teeth

slow breath
quiet breath
listening for nothing
looking into a void

no light, no light
no voice, no figure
yet following close
closing in too quick

motionless and moving
light whispers
omnipotent and unwavering
girl where do you run

guessing for sight
calloused fingertips
against empty walls
surrounded and surrounding

light brush of sound
heart like a drum
dead end, dead end
the reaping of life