Ascension to Eden

She is calm

Calm as the waters before the onslaught

of a wave -

Stood frozen upon the fallen plank

she stares -

The paint on the walls is peeling off anyway

a deathly grey -

She always thought the colours too bland

Or perhaps too pale -

Her hands clutch the sterling locket

She opens it -

The twin pictures are finally let go of

They'd never met -

A mother who only dwelled in shadows

Now placed wispy lips on her forehead

Last kiss, no woes -

A final earthly farewell.

The polished silver glints -

Revealing in its grim reflection

the flames finally licking the window

They'd travelled a long way

to the 13th floor.

Fight or flight, they say -

Well, there's always the third option

Accept your fate.

And so with a smile on her face,

She relaxes the limbs in her fingers

The locket falls - she sways

But only for a moment -

And then there's nothing,

Just the sense of ascension

To her own heaven -

Eden.

Finally free

To just be.