Silence

winds stir just beyond her lips
waiting for her to speak
but she is silent in this moment
listening for answers
listening for self

yearns for winter to come soon
to keep her warm
needing to breathe brittle mornings
exhaling to see if still alive

her eyes move cautiously
watching peripheral hauntings
vision remains clouded
lids too heavy to blink

breezes flirt with her hair
playing with kept secrets
causing the bend in her lips
to slightly curl upwards

scolds the winds with a single finger
they quickly return them
tucked neatly away for another day
this is not their time
but she is their place

her guardian bends slightly
joined by four others
because ten would be suffocating
wraps maternal understanding across chest
to land gracefully on her shoulder

left guardian waits its turn patiently
balled fist ready
fighting is necessary these days

but she's tired

the winds dare not move beyond her lips
they too wait, for her to speak
they too wait, for the answers

and so do I...