Shrugged shoulders
but kept on biting
the lower lip
until
the chapped skin burst
and split.

Dug nails into palms
until
the fists became chalk,
crushed and scattered
by an unexpected draft.

Inhaled, first breath of dawn
until
the lungs were filled
with memories
of similar mornings
when fog
would slowly crawl
and hug the earth,
and the newborn sun
would peek
behind the ragged corners,
uncertain
if it is safe
to finally erupt,
extinguish and wipe out
the evidence of all
nocturnal lights…

'It doesn't matter,'
she said,
as the words flooded
her eyes.