atomicpenguin

Imperceptible pad of footsteps on hard-packed earth; Look down, gaze into the upturned face of a girl, her stringy black hair matted with dried blood. Tiny, isn’t she? Emaciated from days without food. (And love?  What of love?) (Shh, not now…) She sucks softly on her dirt-covered thumb pleads wordlessly: Take me home with you, far away from here. Feed me. (And love?  What of love?) (Shh, I said not now…) Kneel to look into her eyes, so dark, bottomless and beseeching. She tugs on your clinking dog tags; adds a “please.” One word of English to substitute a language of pain. Give her a peppermint,