Blinding lights streak all across the room

The sun is still in its rising position

The beams blast through the old attic, illuminating the dust covered boxes

It is a city of cardboard surrounding a solitary wooden chest that all but left my mind until my eyes laid upon it

My name whispered in my ears

Echoing all around my brain

I’m drawn to the box and move toward it before realizing that I’m already in front it

My hand resting on the handle in anticipation and…fear

It feels reassuring to have my hand on the handle and grin starts to rip from my ears

I fling open the lid

Inside is a flower

A dandelion

A dandelion that I had picked on my last day performing in the circus

A dandelion I had picked to give to the love of my life

A dandelion that saved my life as I watched the huge tarp tent burn to the ground

A dandelion that I gripped tight enough to draw blood from my skin as I watched white hoods and sheets running away from the blaze

A dandelion that holds all of my pain, my grief, my guilt

A dandelion that holds a past life of heartache and love

A dandelion that holds…me