Awful Memory

Scars all up and down his arms.
His sister's name tattooed upon his shoulder.
And the memory,
The awful memory of his sister saving his life the night his house caught fire.
Her screaming at him to get out.
Being thrown out the window as the roof caves in and buries her.
The memory, the awful memory of his sister's life ending and his continuing.

Now, that awful memory is buried deep within him.
The only sign that it really happened are the scars on his arms, the tattoo on his shoulder, and the songs that he writes.

He smiles now, he laughs and dances.
He sings and plays music.
He writes songs of death and sex.
He's moved on
He lives through every day.
He will survive.
And buried deep within him is the memory,
the awful memory of his sister's life ending and his continuing.

For Micah,
who I'll never forget.