She once knew who she was

She once had a heart

She once had a life

She always hid behind a smile

She was an enigma even unto herself

She never had peace of mind

Always searching for the key to life

Through storms and heartache and a sea of misery she flew

Till her burden got to hard to bear

Her strength at an end

No more tears to shed

Just a vast emptiness set in

Her heartbeat slowed and came to a standstill

Her world stopped in mid air

No eagle to stop her spin this time

No dream catcher to hold her safe

No lion to roar his approval or give his protection

No one but herself

No music to play her last farewell

No new dreams played in her head

She began to doubt herself

She roared her despair to the four winds

She played on madness's rim

She looked into the abyss

She bared her breast and cried out, why am I still here?

her lament carried like a whisper on the wind

There was no answer

All her carefully constructed doors crashed open

Darkness rushed in

Nowhere to turn

Her life was at an end

She lay like a stone

Then the light trickled in

She took a deep breath and shuddered

It was her choice

She chose to stand.