• i looked at her face
    and i almost cried
    her face was was filled,
    with the saddest eyes
    her hair hung in a raggedy style,
    her arms limp at her side.
    soot covered her face
    scratches along her legs
    i took her in
    cleaned her face
    wiped away the anger and hate
    she looked at me
    i looked at her
    and then i said,
    "smile for me"
    she looked away
    sadness filled her eyes
    and i hugged her,
    let her cry
    when her hiccups had settled down
    she looked at me
    then said to me with the smallest of smiles,
    "now you smile for me"