i watch the girl through the glass

as her life crashes around her.

there are some things

that time never heals

and some things

we refuse to ever feel.

but when our mind is quiet

these things come crawling back.

from the depths of our inner hell

they climb,

willing and ready

to tear down our lives.

and her tears begin so slowly

leaving trails down her face

like rain on a dusty window

until it is torrential

and the pain

has nowhere to go.

the flood is inescapable

and incapable of slowing

because these tears are old

and angry –

have been building

’til they’re overflowing.

i reach out to the girl

and the girl –

she reaches back.

our hands meet down the middle

of the mirror

where it cracks.