Ghosts

Memory fragments hit me like knives....
..... thrown in a magical act
illusions? .... or facts?
I look for evidence and see
.....blood.....
Dripping...
From my innocence...
Holes where things were once whole

Cold, shaking hands...
Fear
... flickers ... up and down my spine.
Breath runs ragged.
Stops ... with a gasp ... starts again.
Clenched fists of
.... helplessness ....
Beat my fear into submission
And dreams .... of what could be
Are ... smothered
By nightmares .... of what once was