Terror

Walking through back streets
with eyes cast down,
playing a silly game
of trying to avoid the cracks
in the pavement.

Her mind is absorbed
with the childlike diversion;
each step measured carefully,
she must not step on a crack…

Unexpectedly, she lifts her head
and wonders where she is.
The location is strange,
her eyes dart around for recognition
…nothing memorable materialises.

A familiar panic rises.
She’s lost, yet, she knows
it is her home town.
“Just around this next corner”
She turns and turns and turns again
no matter how hard she tries
she can’t get back to where she needs to be…