Chattering Leaves

She stood in the doorway with clenched fists

hands stained
body shaking
and eyes blurring
thick with tears.

She bowed her head
shoulders risen
arms straight
elbows locked

she floated there
not standing
nor sitting
not still
not moving

halfway between reality
and a different dimension

every thought possible raced through her head
as the tears won out
and the world dissipated
in water and darkness

the sound of leaves
chattering on trees

faded in
and faded out
of focus

her body temperature
spiked and dove

unmoving
but shifting
leaning
and swaying

the floor grew damp at her feet
the breeze injected chills directly into her spine

as it sang its ghastly song
whispering in her ear
and playing with her hair

the first tear freed from the tip of her nose
fell rapidly

and splashed in the pool of dark viscous liquid
crawling toward her feet

all lay before her
all lay beneath her

drowning
cold
dead

as she stands there
drowning
cold
and dead