Through Her Eyes
Starwoven: A Story in Verse - Chapter 8
THROUGH HER EYES Zophia stoic lit by feral green eyes once she had looked to the stars Red never part of the plan the baby farm Zophia signed on to create life sons daughters four more unnamed unheld she watched Red reach for the stars scowled at Issi then advanced chasing away warmth she sauntered closer Red sought Issi had he betrayed her through the goggles her mother larger stranger she wanted to run Zophia eyes of seething slits as she marked Issi huffing she turned to Red no wriggling free You don’t listen! frustration laced with something raw too late quieter There’s nothing out there but disappointment. choking away childhood fragments the goggles grabbed from Red’s head heavier than thought her grip faltered a weak moment to consider allowing Red to keep this one thing but … dangerous her fingers curled tighter dreams shattered stolen Nonsense! Mum, please! words raw desperate but already gone Red senses blurred Zophia clenched Red slumped Zophia colder You know nothing of loss … regret flickered too late too late she pulled the child away hissing door of the AOD sealed away the stars Red’s anguish hung a fragile echo half a heartbeat Zophia remembered … then didn’t
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Half a heartbeat / Zophia remembered / then didn’t.-- What a devastating ending. The tragedy of Zophia hardening her heart to protect Red from disappointment—by inflicting the ultimate disappointment herself—is so beautifully and sharply written. It perfectly captures how generational trauma operates in the dark.