The small crowd applauds as she blows out the candles,
“What will you wish for?” They cry.
She responds with a smile, a small shake of her head,
the secret she keeps concealed inside.
 
What she wished for was their understanding
for what she felt compelled to do.
Or at the very least, a small token of forgiveness,
They would feel betrayed, she knew.
 
Another thing her heart desired,
was to take away their pain.
Maybe God would grant her wish,
and, for her parents, hold back the rain.
 
This day was her day – the day she was born,
and she wanted to celebrate.
For this day also was to bring her freedom,
the wings of sleep no longer would wait.
 
Pulling out the letters from hiding,
She places her family’s on top.
Knowing full well once these were delivered,
they’d feel the pain the words brought.
 
Glancing at the clock ticking on,
she begins her flight to freedom.
And as the last letter is put in its place,
she knew soon they would see them.
 
Quickly! She urges herself, hastening on,
to a river so peaceful and cold.
Not wasting time, she pulls out the pills,
and swallows them as was her goal.
 
Gently now, she steps into the rowboat,
and rests her head on the blanketed boards.
Keeping in mind the calm she’d soon feel,
and the eternal sleep already in store.
Her mind shifts to the Lady of Shallot,
the maiden so perfect and sad.
Closing her eyes – the soft moonbeams her lamplight,
She quietly smiles and gently glides away from land.
 
Drifting calmly through the quiet waters,
the river rocks her to sleep.
The medication pumps through to her heart,
and allows death to hover so sweet.
 
A cloud moves to cover the bright crescent moon,
as her final seconds float away on the wind.
She breathes her last and her eyelids flutter,
as a final “I love you” she sends.
 
Those final words slowly weave their way,
to the hearts of those weary and worn –
And at length they came upon an old row boat,
carrying only blankets, appearing forlorn.
 
Moving closer one thing more was discovered,
a feather, pure white and clean.
And on the wind a whisper embraced them,
“Don’t weep, I’m finally free!”
 
From that day on, the same time ever more,
a melancholy memory of her remained.
A celebration of birth as it had started,
then a silent farewell unrefrained.
 
Along the edge of Serenity River,
a cross will always stand strong.
Representing the shattered heart that was lost,
a sad and beautiful song.