The light had all but gone, Extinguished by cruel words, And harsh moments. Her feelings numbed, And thoughts disregarded, The candle snubbed out again and again. Rare glimpses into her sad life, She hides so well, It almost doesn’t exist....

Time was a villain. As unassuming as still water and heavy enough to drown in. A cool breeze stole the searing bite from the bonfire before Daphne, and she wished it could regenerate what had already been burned. Her childhood....