By Ariel Dunnah
We stop looking for monsters under the bed when we realize they are inside of us
A young girl
Aged twelve years young
She is down on her knees every night
Crying
Once upon a time she was told this is where you come to find salvation
Crying out for a savior
But no one could save her
Hands flailing in the air she reaches out to touch God’s lips
But with empty hand she clenches a fist
“Open the door and he shall come in”
She pounds at his chest, hollowness resounding
What kind of monster does not understand the sanctity
Hiding beneath white sheets?
Strips her naked, forces her to bare her soul
Now she bears no soul
But rather bears a heavy load
Curved spine, breaking bones like religion
It makes it hard for her to dance
He tore the smile from her face
And left a scar that couldn’t be replaced
No one told her how to unlearn herself
Changing her face everyday to look like someone else
She could be someone that you know
Or presumably harmless strangers brushing shoulders on a by road
Learning about unfurling spines from beneath beds
She has learned to walk upright; like a majestic steed
Darkness enveloping, she has traded in the illuminating essence of sunlight
Hiding faces like racing pulses in the night
There are still some parts of her she cannot hide
Often finds herself crying at the break of first light
Caved in chest and arising bosom
He put a cave in her chest before God could give rise to her bosom
It’s where she lost those last bits of humanity
Her sanity
She’d like to find it again but she doesn’t want to brave the dark anymore than is necessary
Every stir in this hollow is resounding
So she walks the lonely roads looking for wondering men willing to help the pretty lady
But they are often to drunk and dank with expectation to know what humanity looks like
What her sanity looks like
Stumbling around in the darkness
Sliding on bruised and withered flowers
Tripping over cliffs
She sits on the edge of her vision asking the meaning of regret
As the sun peeks over the horizon
Illuminating silent and still oceans
Author’s Bio: Ariel Dunnah is an 18 year old student at the Antigua State College. She had two stories in the 2014 Wadadli Pen finals – A Grain of Salt was honourable mention in the 18 to 35 age category and La Diablesse was second placed in the category. Both were strong contenders for the main prize with La Diablesse being adjudged third place overall. This is not Ariel’s first go around in the Wadadli Pen winners’ circle – she was first and second place in the 13 to 17 age category and second placed overall in 2012 while still a student at the Antigua Girls High School.
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