Even as they were laughing outside

she was far from the joy of the children

gathering candy

under the dark moon of Halloween

for her, there was no place to hide

from the things she had done

in the pursuit of the fancy

things of the world

after the joy of the party

had left her a single mother

after his promises had left her breaking

torn in two by the tearing emotion

that comes with being abandoned by love

her thoughts had become the enemy

the shadows that dance across her room

tickled by the white of the moon

as the regret

trickles from the corner of her eye

she gathers her son into her arms

and remembers what she had long tried to forget

the truth that even though she feels like death, she doesn’t have to die

there is a grace available for the healing of harms

her shoulders tremble as she loses the will to fake it

to live the lie

the wreckage, the reward of too many wrong turns

outside the children continue laughing

trick or treating

but her lips are mumbling

a prayer for salvation

a chance to begin again

in the light of dawn

outside of the darkened prison

of her own creation

***

girl, there is another way

a different tomorrow

but you have to leave behind where you are today