This is being made worse by her waiting.
Lies and mistakes fall around her feet,
Like so many broken toys, discarded.
The child is too old for such frivolities now.
She has responsibilities.
She has to earn her keep, she has to learn.
She has to stand up for her beliefs, she has to learn.
Nothing is perfect,
No one cares if you’re scared.
Innocence shatters too quickly,
The edges are sharp, the scars are deep;
She’s not sure if she’ll heal this time.
Her one greatest wish is to turn around;
Run back up the road.
She’s spinning, around and around,
Looking for a way to escape.
The jackals are at her heels again,
The only way is forwards.
She can’t stop running now, they’ll catch her.
She can’t stop stumbling now, they’ll catch her,
And when the teeth rip through her flesh,
When her bones are exposed,
The tears will dry on the sand,
The truth is exposed.
She was left to fight and die alone.