"And then they lived happily ever after."

She closes the book with a sigh,

kisses her mom goodnight,

and falls into dreams;

Her eight-year-old mind spinning, spinning

memories, images whirling around and around

defying innocence.

THUD.

Her eyes fly open, wide and fearful,

blinking in the dark,

She hears harsh noises, rising and rising.

Struggling to comprehend,

struggling to grasp reality,

Not again, she thinks.

It’s much too soon.

a bang. a crash. a scream.

She squeezes her eyes shut,

puts her hands over her ears.

Silence.

But eventually,

the sound of sirens.

“And then they lived happily ever after,” she whispers.