‘Look, can you see it?’

‘Mom! Mommy, can you hear it?’

‘Yes, mommy, we are here, at home.’

‘The roof, the roof is still here, weighting heavy on your shoulders. And our hiding place…the one we had to hide in, mom, are you still in there?’

‘I will go in and find you. Danger,…there’s no more pressure…and I’m back, all the way back to you!’

…

‘It’s all over, can’t hide now, mom!’

‘Get up for me, don’t fear! You’re free, why not come to me?’

‘My brother has been telling me you left me, but I can see you. Right in here! Our kind and loving neighbour kept me away from you, through tears they held me back from you, in their arms. Mommy, why? How could they be so mean?’

‘Hold me, mom, hold me while I’m your child and you’re my life. While I am here, but you have left me in a drowning hole in my own ground, my own home, my own soul.’

‘Spring is coming with your steps, then why are you still cold?’

‘I hear no sounds, no signs of war, breathe, breathe so I can know that at the end, a start will come.’

‘Your eyes, they’re a disguise, but they have drowned into the dust. I know you can stand up and shake it off.’

…

‘Chase him, mommy, finish him! Bury him into his dusty land! Step into and walk all lines, make him wish he could have waved goodbye, silence him into his deepest crimes and bring me happiness as prize. Write him down into my eyes then light them up, no fear inside! Make him pay for all this red your white had changed into. He is called the dark night of your soul, so all who wish for more, give them sweet cherries. Scare them ‘till they discover how similar are colours.

Come back to me, mum! Come back when you’re satisfied, when it’s all done. When you’ll be safe and when you’ll see that in my future, I will be truly happy.’

‘Before you go, I’ll pack your words. You’ll want to play a solo and you’ll need swords to keep your hands on bows. I’ll pack them all, you’ll need them all. You’ll need my toys to play along, then fill the holes.’

‘Make me happy, you’re my mommy, not their ally.’