Window

The girl saw, against the dark window, a cross and Jesus nailed through the hands. From outside came tearing sounds and shrieks. The girl got up and opened the window. The street below was empty. Silence seemed to dwell on the night street.

In the afternoon, the girl lies in bed and waits for sleep. She curls into a fetal position and imagines. The girl opens the window and lowers herself out, hanging with her whole body, holding onto the edge of the windowsill with her fingers. She stretches her body long and hangs. Down on the street, an old man stops with his handcart and stares at the girl.

The girl startles awake when sounds come from the stairwell. The iron sliding door of the elevator opens. The girl stares at the door, keeping watch. The neighboring door opens and closes. The girl dares to breathe out and shifts her gaze back toward the wall.

I began to feel a weight on my chest. I sank downward. The depth took me into its dark cover, and I let myself sink. Someone helped me to rest.

(written:7-14-2025)