Nightmares (Columbine: 15 Years Later)

Nightmares (Columbine: 15 Years Later)
Jessica Marie

As night descends and the stars fall,
when the monster's paws begin to claw;
the vicious nail reach under the door,
you try with all your might on the lava floor
to hold with your shoes, you have to save,
the monster pounds and pounds and heat waves
surround you and you can't move or scream,
all goes black and growling grows to a sheen
crescendo, it sounds like the pits of Hell
where Satan calls out and in a commanding yell,
"You are worthless! It is all your fault!"
and in your last conscious moment opens the vault--
grabbing your pillow and screaming in fright,
for 15 years this has been your life night after night,
much like those who have survived such scares
and usually can't seem to find a life that fares.

Yet, you revisit 15 years later as you shake,
your thoughts jumble and your feet hardly make;
but as you walk with your mentor, your friend,
the nasty and disorienting thoughts end.
As you reach the janitor's closet where you were spared,
calmly you tell your story about how your shoes ware
from keeping the door closed from Eric and Dylan,
you saved a bunch of people, but can you call them villains?
You stand here, victorious, some would call it small,
but for countless other survivors who usually fall--
this victory is huge and life changing, but you deeply breathe,
praying that this will finally keep your nights free
as you begin life anew with your project for Wounded Minds
and helping those who grasp the terrors for a peaceful find.