Christmas Sorrow.

I had this nightmare on Christmas
and I woke up shaking and sweating
I saw little 6 year-old me,
with her long brown pigtails and her big round eyes
all swollen and tearful
hugging her favorite book of old fairy tales.

I walked straight to her and held her in my arms
and she was crying and sobbing
and I asked her what was wrong.

She looked at me, afraid
and asked where her mommy and daddy were.
And I couldn't bring myself to tell her
how awful it had all gotten
and how lonely she'd get to feel.