fort

216 35 7
                                    

Evenings were by far the best
especially now that 
Aunt Eevie was here with us


Suki, Zaina, Miho, 

Zeira who was turning 2, 

Miria who was about to turn 1

Aunt Eevie and I


we'd all come together in the evening
and Aunt Eevie would help us build a pillow fort
on the living room floor
with all of the duvets, blankets and pillows in the house
then she'd hang fairy lights

and turn off the light bulb


Sitting huddled in the dim glow
of hundreds of tiny LED fireflies
She'd tells us stories 
fairy tales and myths
from all around the world


Suki, Zaina, Miho and I 
would stay up late
giving our unending attention
and immersing ourselves
in the tales she told.


Zeira and Miria would doze off
curling into the fur blankets
but we'd sit rooted to our places
ears and hearts open
to stories of distress

and hope
to stories of hate
then love.


And I wondered
as I helped Aunt Eevie carry 
Zeira to her cot
if I'd one day leave this place
to live a happier life



without scowls
without screeching babies
without bullies
without peeling paint

without anguish

Savor The Moonlight - Book 1 | ✔Where stories live. Discover now