There was once a girl;
she no longer wanted to feel,
so she shut out the world
and listened only to the voices
that were not hers

There was once a dream;
So high, it seemed impossible
and so inadequate,
it was never deemed worthy

The world used to be new
but time spun, axis tilted
and suddenly it was old;
when everyone else left;
she stayed

Last night she dreamt of fire;
woods burning, flames crackling,
eyes alight, voices swarming—
and the heat

She could not shake off the heat

For it was
the only thing that
reminded her of life