Outside My Window

Laura Fletcher

See me, there, in my room,

Under the covers, shaking.

There is something outside that I only just noticed.

Creeping, lurking.

Suddenly, the window breaks.

A cold wind blows inside,

Yelling, screaming like a banshee.

I’m frightened.  Help me!

I don’t know where to hide!

It shreds my sheets

And wrenches away my blanket,

Grabbing at me.

Frantically, I search for shelter

Crawling on my hands and knees,

But the wind cuts me

Like shattered glass.

The stings pierce, and

I bleed.

It clutches my throat.

Squeezing, crushing.

Under, over, top to bottom, and

I bleed.

Harshly, it drops me.

I fall, raw, onto my carpeted floor,

Covered with glittering ruby daggers.

The wind abruptly dies down now,

Only a gentle breeze.

I still hear it, but only in a whisper.

Zephyr kisses my wounds to heal.

Slowly, I rise and lift my head.

The window is broken,

As am I.

My room is totally exposed,

My bed is in shambles,

But I survived.

I feel the rivers on my cheeks

As they wash away the crimson.

I am raw and bleeding.

I know that wounds heal

And then callus,

But for now, I only weep

And bleed.