Light poured in shaping a path on the floor that many have followed to the ledge of the window My bare feet padded on cold stone down the light path and stepped carefully onto the open edge Wind rippled my simple dress white as lamb white like snow I shivered down my spine to my feet they shifted toes to heels heels to toes The bright view concealed dark history crimson stories of girls before me Look out and see the whole kingdom glittered in good fortune Look straight and see florid buildings intricate streets steeples and bells Look far and see rolling hills distant mountains crops and herds But to look down- the ground is far the rocks look soft and sinister. I can see them below since I know they’re there. I can make out the old bones cracked and scattered the tattered ivory fabric once a dress browned by old blood the girls before me who found a way down from this tower an exit from this reality I can imagine them falling white dress billowing a surrender flag or a freedom dove I did not know which Heels to toes toes to heels Each of us is kept high and away to represent purity and innocence a girl to save the sanctity of a whole kingdom dressed in white and locked away a sacrifice Only the Men of the High Table would ascend the tower for I was theirs like the girls before me Used and thrown bloodied and bruised and then given a fresh white dress Toes to heels heels to toes my feet shifted but my balance remained strong Scarlett, burning anger filled my chest as I gazed down at the girls before me To jump was abruptly no longer an option (deep inside it never was) Out the window a hawk screeched wings powered it by it’s red tail flashed in sync with the fury behind my eyes For the girls before me for the girls after me it had to be a fight I was no porcelain lamb I am a bloodied wolf I am a hawk Incarnadine Heels to toes toes to heels and I turned on them.