trapped in the depths of the cage of bone sits a little girl.

she patiently waits for a sign, any sign at all.

just an explanation for why she is trapped…

in the basement of the body she calls home.

years had gone by, and tears were shed,

creating a shallow well of her own despair.

eventually, she decided to have hope.

maybe with enough time and patience, 

she could be invited back upstairs.

she pondered what she did wrong; 

maybe too loud, maybe too disgraceful.

she pondered and pondered until one day…

bones begin rattling.

a thumping echoes through the chamber.

the little girl pleads, asking if anyone can hear her.

a deep, crackling voice responds, 

“yes, no. here but broken. who knows.”

as the chamber continues to rattle with each beat,

the little girl gets up, and carefully approaches the ribcage.

she hugs it tightly and whispers, 

“can’t be too broken, 

you’ve carried me along safely for years.

i’m not sure why this imprisonment was chosen, 

but i’m done shedding tears”. 

the rattling stops. the little girl looks up.

from this angle, she sees the heart beyond the cage,

still beating… but a little slower…

“i’ve handled you with care… 

but i’m not strong enough to embrace you.”