She Plays

She’s pretty
and she’s sweet,
no one knows
she’s a fiend.
I look into
her eyes
I can tell
that she’s high
by the way
that she plays
she’s been
playing by
the fire
too long now
I wait
with bated breath
wondering
will she get burned
but
it doesn’t matter;
the sickness
she holds inside
is burning her
alive
and still
I wait
wondering
and afraid
too scared
to speak up
too mystified
to look away.
From here
I watch
waiting
for the end
of the game.
klf