Malena*

alone, yet not unnoticed
she goes about her new surroundings
finding her routine
the same as he does
from afar at first
her allure drawing him closer
her beauty an awakening
in his mind
her sadness is beautiful
to young eyes
answering questions unasked
until her arrival
at this place

she dressed as a woman
not of innocence, but of beauty and need
her steps leading her there
to the square where
upon the eyes of the seeing
she approached
her reflection in his young eyes
the disdain from the hated
was present and alive
foreshadowing her very movement
quickly. violently. completely.
they attacked en masse
tearing at her

bringing her down to themselves
to be honored no more
than a street whore left
broken and naked at their hands
his eyes welled at the site
so compelling as to drive others
to indifferent inaction
as witness to the beautiful brutality
he wept along with her
shattered form revealed human after all
and vulnerable as we
in this state of violence,
retribution, and rebuke

damaged yet unbroken
she collects the memories of herself
before this, before now
and smiles
a loss as great as life itself
alone but surrounded
by those who will test
her mettle and her will
he is there, does she notice
the resolve of a soldier
in such a young soul
eager to reach out to her
and pull her up beside him

standing still, once again righted
her path already defined she begins renewed
untethered and freed from her beautiful burden
together they course
with each sunrise and sunset
a parallel continuum leading them away
in the same place
which they started
both now noticing alike
the bond which lies between them
unbroken
with the passage of the shadows
through this village square

time has served them
in sun and moon alike
their phases passing along
as markers of youth into manhood
and of beauty retained
with the crease of time
displayed as testament
along this road until today
that they alone became the guides of
themselves against the arduousness
of life and circumstance in war
and in person they reach for their place
already defined from the beginning

by her arrival at this place.

*inspired by moodstained