Competition

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Haunted Memories Kill
by Annabelle Chapman
Ipswich Girl’s Grammar School, Ipswich, Qld

Opening the door
The white walls,
white floors,
and crisp white bed sheets
sting my eyes-
see her there
lying helpless
defenceless
like a small mouse to a cat-
but where is her predator?
the invisible monster
is killing her from within
it's turned her eyes
to a faded dusty blue
it's made her body weak and frail
her thin blonde hair frames her face
as she stares at the ceiling
not noticing me at all
she's almost given in--
not on my watch-

walk to her
hold her hand
and if the lord would allow me
i'd take all her pain
channeling it through my veins
making it my own
shielding her from
anything that steps her way
i'd sacrifice my life if i could
but things haven't worked out that way-
the isistant beep echoes off the walls
but she lies there- not moving a limb-
she's holding onto the last string of her life
and i'll be damned if i let her let it go

i sit like this for hours
holding her hand-
the afternoon sun
streams through the window
and shines on her sunken cheeks
she's looking at me- the protector of my life
my sister, my friend
a tiny smile comes across her pale skin-
rest my head lightly on her chest
breathing in the clean cold air
her soft short breaths flow into my hair-
i watch the lines on the machine
go up and down like mountains and valleys
just like back home, where we'd run together
and play--
saddness overcomes me
a tear falls from my eye
i just want to hug her- hold her tight
if she dies from this- i'm sure i'll die too
"i'm so sorry" she whispers
"i love you"

thats when it hits-
a constant flat line
no more moutains
no more valleys
no more back home-
into the room fly doctors and nurses
like bees let out of a hive
they sting- poke and prod her
they're ushering me out
but i can't leave
she's laying there
helplessly defeated-
she needs me-i need her-
"no you can't!" i scream
my eyes are watery- i can barely see a thing
but i know they've stopped
they've announced the time- 16:06

i wake up- it's a cold winters day
the snow falls outside but in through the window
a small stream of afternoon sun shines on my face
i turn to the clock- next to it is a picture of her
i miss her-- its been 6 years now
and it's still fresh in my mind- haunting me
16:06 is the time- 16:06 echoes a flat line