I
she had a wristwatch tattooed on her arm
every now and then
she glanced at it casually
and nodded
and smiled to herself
II
she thought she had merely painted herself into a corner
but the walls were gone
actually
she was over the edge
III
a dog barks
a baby cries
knives glint
the night is
cut to the quick
IV
she came upon a mirror in a darkened room
a monster was inside, dripping pus and corruption
waiting for the flip of the light switch
a glimmer on the floor caught her eye – a pin
she stooped to pick it up, then exited
missing the terror completely
V
one night it happened
she opened the back door, stepped out
and there was nothing, a void
Leaves of Ash 