Nightmare

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I wake from my nightmare

The sun shines

Through the small window

At the top of the room


I stretch

My arms

My legs


I stand up

My body aches

From the hard mattress

On our concrete floor


Mother?

Nahla?

I say

No response


I hear a whimper

A pause

Then another

I slowly walk to the tiny kitchen


Mother and Sister Nahla

Sit at our small wooden table

Father built


She cries

And screams

Into her hands


What is wrong?

I ask

Sister Nahla says,

I'm sorry Ajani

It wasn't a dream


I stare

At the silent walls

Of our shack


Father...

Gone...

Dead....


No

No

No

No


This can't be true

Can't be real


My world slowly

Shuts down

On my numb body


He is gone

And never coming back


W-w-why? What happened?

I utter

Through the numb pain

And tears

Covering my heart


Sister Nahla

Nods

A no


My nightmare

Was now a reality


Just like everything else

In this cruel

Cruel

Place


This is not home

Home is with father

Mother

And sister


Safe

And

Sound


He is gone...

Forever gone... 

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