By Kayley ulmer

Beside the river of death your past lovers breathe, 

Exhaling with the sorrow of such young tragedy. 

The lovers inhale bitterness and solemn regrets at your gravesite and beg for your forgiveness. 

As you choke upon the silver Danake between your bluish lips, 

Charon himself banishes the lovers 

 From the River Styx 

Condemning mourning souls to a century of grief. 

  

But you float on along the current 

Disjointed from the mortal world  

Free finally from your father, 

Free of both his Dr. Jekyll and his Mr. Hyde,  

Free from your brother and his unpredictability  

No longer ashamed of him, 

Not ashamed of your embarrassment  

Free from your mother, and her need to control 

Escaped her arms in exchange for eternity 

  

There is you: 

Trapped by your love, 

Bound by the chains of family and eternal love 

Kidnapped by death’s premature knock. 

Beside the river of death you rejoice in the knowledge that you have all of eternity to protect your sister 

For you know she can finally breathe again 

And when she does, 

You pray 

She inhales only soft nostalgia