She waits
looking out at the darkness
her toes curling
over the edge
the platform
her safe place
the whisper comes, “I want … I want …”
risks
fears
lost opportunities
rise from the water
the whisper climbs, “I want … I want …”
still
she holds on
the whisper now rushes into a scream
she holds on
still
unable to fly
Michele Giles, an adjunct English professor, has published short stories and poetry. She is working on a novel.

