The Girl in the Mirror

Every so often, I see her,  
underneath all the pain  
Sometimes a glimmer shines through  
But I walk away...  
....I’m sorry I don’t know you, I whisper  

Longingly, she looks back at me,    
recognition evades me  
In essence, a perfect stranger  
Leaning in for a closer look....  
...I’m sorry I don’t remember, I sigh.  
 
This time, she cries out for me,  
reminisce, she invites...  
summon her, she continues...  
The one full of hope  
The one who believes good things happen to kindhearted souls  
The one certain of more to life, than this  
The auspicious dreamer  
Still, the memories elude me...  
...I wish I knew her, I cry.  
 
 Come closer, she begs...  
Take another look, she pleads...  
Revelation remains unseen  
yet, familiarity allures  
Overcome with wistfulness,  
I miss her dearly  
Lamenting her innocence,  
benevolent heart,  
and exuberant  spirit  
They way she believed in the goodness of others,  
propensity to find the magic in simple affairs,  
and her desire to let her loving kindness heal the brokenness in the world  
Instead, the world changed her  
Listen...  
...you’re  better off without me, I plead.  
 
Before closing  the door,  
I glance back once more,  
Shuddering, as I watch the tears caress her face.  
A subtle sparkle of light captures my attention.  
Suddenly, recognizing the spark in her deep blue eyes,  
Frozen in the doorway,  
memories twirl around me  
Rushing to embrace the mirror,  
fists strike the glass  
 Come back to me, I beg...  
 
She wipes her tears, head shaking in disappointment  
...I’m sorry I don’t know you, she whispers  
 and slowly fades away...