The Black Napkin Volume 1 Issue 3 | Page 33

28

in nurseries

by Katarina Bordeaux

In the half-light,

she could not tell

their faces apart.

Hush now.

Knowing she would

not see them in

daylight again,

she touched their

cheeks with her

index finger and drew

a heart shape.

The cradle rocks.

Those that kept her called,

and she knew her time

with them was complete.

Papa will buy you...

She whispered not

I love you,

but I can not

love you more than this

and walked away.

The bough breaks.