Ghostly visits.

I close my mind to
the memory, but it
intrudes, as it always
does. The canary paint,
chipped in the corners.
The small, never-locked
bathroom. The lingering
eulogies of bleach,
entering your lungs.

I watch the grains of
salt collect on my palms,
reminding me of your
ashes, a stark difference
in color.

And I wish I had more
solid proof of your
existence,

but you burn like sage
on my lips,

purifying everything but me.

____________________

Based on the character of Alice, from HBO's mini-series, "Sharp Objects". The character only gets a passing mention in Gillian Flynn's book, but the adaptation has a much more fleshed-out character.