Panic Switch

The only one left

in a box                of her own making.

Dirt    covers         the inside of her world

And she can’t scream

her mouth opens, but no sound comes.

Her world

drips            through the wood

and the splinters scratch

her skin.

Blood mingles with sweat-

a sea            of temporary regret,

she is strong, and she remembers the panic switch

her fingers crawl over the baseboards

until the latch

clicks.

We were all waiting,

for you to come back to us.