When she was small

She played pretend

Blurring the days

She didn't want to end

The birds would chirp

The squirrels would screech

The sky was bluer

And within her reach

She could skin her knees

And shed her tears

And the dark was the worst

Of all of her fears

Walls could open

And snakes could hug

She could hide inside

The holes she dug

Mirrors weren't scary

Sight wasn't pain

And clouds didn't bleed

Any acid rain

But stars die too

And when they're gone

There'll be nothing left

For her to count on

Her screams will echo

But no one will hear

And she'll slowly disintegrate

Into the atmosphere

She'll call for help

And hope to be found

Though she knows only silence

Can make such a sound

Patience is long

Living is short

Her mind runs rampant

And her limbs contort

She knows no reality

And her fear is never-ending

But what keeps her alive

Is that gift for pretending