from the outside looking in

Sonia can't move.

She breathes so deep and so fast I fully expect her head will explode

She shakes and buries her head in her hands

Tears roll down her face but she is silent

Heaving breaths, no words

Silently dying, I fear

When words finally escape her trembling mouth they shake harder than her hands

She scream-whispers

"I

can't

breathe"

I think she's dying. She must be dying.

Laura lashes out

Screaming expletives at everyone

Everything

LEAVE ME ALONE

But alone is a gift she abuses

With razors and glass shards

Leaving her alone is a death sentence

She runs outside into sunshine

Rays of gold glisten on her hair

But she does not feel the warmth of God

Telling her there's nothing to fear in sunshine;

She feels golden fire burning her skin

She is exposed to the elements

She is a sinner in the spotlight

And she breaks right in front of us,

Screaming in a pain we know is only in her head

We can't help her.

I can't help her.

And that is the worst pain of all.