Emma sat miserably on the sofa, holding her garbage-bag full of belongs close to her side. In the kitchen, she could hear Mrs. Stanley ranting and raving about how miserable, useless and generally all around pathetic Emma was. She insisted the social worker be called immediately, and after several, long sighs, Mr. Stanley picked up the phone and began to dial.

There's people all around,
But I feel so alone,
My heart's beat into the ground,
I just want to go home,

But even home isn't safe anymore,
I never know what's in store.
Why am I the only one in such pain?
When will you return to torture me again?

I am through,
with everything I know,
I am through,
with my sad life so,

I will say goodbye,
in a letter for you,

Reticent.
Somber.
His dark eyes quietly glanced over the room, all thoughts hidden behind the mask of silence that covered his face.
A young girl, maybe fifteen, appeared at his side, her light eyes and hair contrasting with his darker complexion.
“Do you dance?” She asked quietly, sensing the deep quiet and thoughtfulness inside of him.
“No.”

I hide behind the darkness of my eyes, the brightness that was there once, Is no longer. My smile has become faded to an outstanding straight face. My heart is broken in-two, the depression has reached me and pulled me under. I can’t get up, and take a breath of fresh air until I have defeated the current. My blush is put on so much I look fake, as if I weren’t really here.

Chapter the Eleventh

So she became Court Singer, and every night she held the castle captive with the beauty of her voice. It usually took someone shouting above her song to stop her, for in her singing she felt joy, a new way of singing and worshipping God, and didn’t want to stop.

Crucified today
my arms nailed back
stretched out to embrace
held back by your nails

My heart that beat to love
now bleeds my blood
nailed fast my feet
that tried to walk
the path of love and peace

The pain is an unending ocean
stretching before my weary,
dropping shoulders
pulling me away
while I'm nailed here to stay

Your slap in my face
still stings

The wind is dancing about you
and rain pours through the day
washing it away
to another rainy day

The hope that comes with sunshine
seems lost amidst the clouds
while dampness soaks right through you
security drowning in flood

The rain is falling, pouring
blowing through the field
and everything that's withered
begins to rise and lift it's face
for tomorrow's brighter skies

My heart is breaking
aching
watching
tears shedding
waters shattering
rough
through storms
deep and cold
churning
the soul.

Crowds wounding,
because they're
hurting
though hiding

Smiles cracked
like broken glass
shatter and fall
into nothing.

The sun is running
through the breeze
burning
shaking trees
trembling knees.

Eyes screaming
of pain and grief

These scars that mark the countryside and mar the pretty view
Remind us of a harder time when all that man could do
Was fight to keep his homeland free, and save the joys he knew

The crumbled trenches and white crosses that mark where soldiers lie
Painfully remind us of the days when our boys died
In honor of their sacred land and sunlit native skies

They say you only live once
So live
Like you’ll never get another chance
Give
Your world true love and romance
And live
To the fullest

They only live once, too
So reach
And touch them when they’re down
Speak
The words to erase the frown
And live
To the fullest

They say a friend is for the tough times
So sigh
And face the world together
Cry
And be comforted forever