Losing

She tugs at the lace at her throat

A constricting collar

Not wanting to be among the

throngs of lying people

So she expresses herself secretly

In vibrant lilies and blooming

violets

Delicate sand dollars and broken

seashells

Her watercolors leaving beautiful

bruises on her blank canvas

They settle like a stone in her

stomach

Reminding her

Not to speak

Because no one will understand

And she will lose

Everything