Prey

As soon as her secret was out, she was never safe;

Chased,

Tracked relentlessly;

A guarded life was better than this

Constant pursuit,

Constant running

Prey

Harrowed by the hunters

Give up, they would say

Let us have our prize

So heavy

Dragged down by its weight,

She didn’t want it anyway

Finally, finally

The end of the road, a yawning chasm

She stands at the lip of the cliff—

Take it!

Greedy hands ripping,

Tearing,

A last, satisfying scream

As she pours everything out

As they take,

Take,

Tearing

Strands of life, dripping blood

Torn from her chest

Death.

She had a heart of gold.