Resurrection- Shay

I can’t breathe, I said.

 I’ll take you to the beach, she answered

I had a secondhand red bikini and wanted to swim.

Surfers stood looking out at the breaks, wetsuits down. The last one came in, blue-lipped and goosefleshed.

I have to swim.

That’s my girl.

I kicked hard to warm up, under each crest.

I stayed in a long time, came out slow.

The surfers applauded

You’re making us look bad!

She was grinning, wiping away tears when I reached her.

This is the first time I’ve seen you smile in a month.

I raised my arms, laughing.

Insomnia, Shay

I crawled into the space made by the pillow cover's tear
where the thread had pulled away
I pressed my face into the batting
cotton-wool against my cheek
Just a girl, not yet asleep, inside a pillow case
Where once there was a restful night
a dream of dreams to come
There left behind
in fun, in play
a tattered cloth round a tattered face
Both spent and threadbare lay
Each thread a sigh, of laughter old
Younger than today
Wound about
Creep, sprawling round for time
where I no longer lay
So, sleeping lie
The child dies
And I am left, and left behind
Inside a pillow case/