A Certain Stranger

I tried to open sleepy eyes

and look into the mirror.

A bad idea before the coffee

hit my fainting heart.

I saw a woman unfamiliar,

no one I’d ever seen before.

someone haunted by her choices,

someone sorry for her faults,

someone wishing for love lasting,

someone running from dark shadows,

someone lost in bad decisions,

someone doubtful of beginnings,

someone moving 

toward a certain death.

published in Alethiology