Nothing Girl

Once upon a time
In a place far from here.
There was a young girl
Who no one could hear.

A while ago
She made a bad choice
And as punishment
She gave up her voice.

The bottle she held
Forever in her hand
Displayed her sin
More than any brand.

She didn't mean it.
She wanted to go back.
But life (and death)
Do not work like that.

She'd been a shadow before
She knew what that's like.
But now she was trapped
In a world without light.

Shadows are caused
By light you see.
"Without any light
there can be no me."

For a long time she sat
Staring into thin air.
Invisible chains
Keeping her there.

Then something happened
One special day.
The nothing girl
Found something to say.

She reached out her finger
And traced in the dirt
"Please forgive me,
I know I've caused hurt."

She stared at it then.
Thinking that none
Would ever ever see
What she had done.

But something happened.
Something surprising
The nothing girl
Found something hiding.

It appeared next to her.
Small and petite.
With pretty dark hair
And crooked front teeth.

A little girl
Held out her hand
And light flooded into
Nothing Girl's land.

"Hello there, miss"
the little girl said,
"No more being sad.
Smile instead."

Nothing Girl blinked.
Could this really be true?
Was she finally forgiven?
Was this really her cue?

She took the girl's hand
Found her chains gone.
Because there had been none
She'd been free all along.

"Thank you."
Nothing Girl said.
Wait just a minute.
She needs a new name instead.

Nothing Girl exists.
She is right there.
Living like us.
Breathing our air.

She has a new name now.
And it's ever so true.
For the Nothing Girl's name
Is now 'you.'