Broken Doll

Today was much like any other day -
I got up early, ate some bread,
drank milk from a chipped glass
and stared out of the broken window.

You let me play with a doll,
ragged like the future,
and when I got bored
you put it back in the cupboard.

There were words I didn’t understand -
but I already knew that words were lies
because you looked away from my eyes
when you promised me heaven.

I dressed slowly and made sure
all the clasps were locked tight.

You smiled at me.
I smiled back.
We both had tears on our cheeks.

We set out for the market
hand in hand,
until there came a moment
when you let go
and pushed me forward.

I passed the old man
who owned the meat stall
and the woman
who sold me dates
drifting by them
like a ghost.

I looked back once,
but you were already
hurrying away
with your head down.

So I stumbled on
and when the moment came
to press the button
I was thinking about the doll
and wishing the pretty day
had not come to this.