i turn my cheek and see her
sitting in a dark room
alone
she looks like me
her eyes peer into mine and i see her pain
i feel her from a distance
i take a few hesitant steps towards her
the room is dark but there's an ominous light gracing her face
it looks like mine
her cheeks are hollow and dark circles hung from her brown eyes
her hair is long and dark and i can see her bones peeking out of her skin
her skeleton on display
i get close and she reaches her hand out
i feel a sense of comfort as i take it gently, and sit down in front of her
we didn't break eye contact
her hands were cold and frail
i was afraid if i were to squeeze too hard i'd break every bone
i felt her pain through her touch
she was aching for someone to take notice of her loneliness and suffering
i held her in my arms
and she cried
like she hadn't cried in decades,
her body shook against mine
she was freezing, her cold body gave me chills
it hurt to see her like this
someone i couldn't recognize but i knew her all too well
i held her in my arms
the room went on forever
"i wonder how she's survived this long here" i wondered
her wails echoed through the empty void we sat in
she looks up at me and i have nothing to say
no words to comfort her
i just hope she feels my compassion through my actions
she finally calms down
she is me
i am her
i hold her tight, avoiding being too rough or her ribs might crack and she might disintegrate into this void
i know her too well
i just hold her
and she just sleeps
and we're here together
