Student Publishing Program ::

Taylor Campbell

Nothing At All

An open window peeks into the calm night.
The stars blink through panes of glass,
Framed by the trembling curtains,
As they float on the hostile winds.
The clock keeps time on the wall,
Pacing,
Waiting,
Until they strike.
The girl’s heart races,
Her legs sprint against the quilt.
Tears and a cold sweat plaster curls to her cheeks.
Her hands bury in her pillow.
She blinks, and sees the meadow.
She steps, and a flower withers under her heavy foot.
A branch snaps, the wind crying her name.
She spins, and sees a hallway.
The girl feels the stare,
His eyes burning her back,
On the tender spot between her shoulder blades.
The man is behind her,
His steps quicken as she is still.
She whimpers and stumbles,
Grasping at the railing, the stairs melt beneath her feet.
She bites her lip, drawing blood, tears in her eyes.
The girl rounds the corner and lets out a sigh.
He laughs as she shudders to see him again down the hall.
It stretches, the floorboards disappearing into a mist,
He stands, smiles, and snaps his fingers.
The moth-eaten carpet pulls him towards her.
Fingers fumbling, she reaches for a door,
Desperately clawing at the knob.
His dirty fist clutches her shoulder and she starts to sob.
With one last push, she throws her body against the door.
The pillow is caught in her shaking hands,
As she lands on the floor,
A wet towel braces her fall.
She gasps, blinking in the moonlight from the window.
It was nothing, nothing at all.

[TABLE OF CONTENTS, LHS CLASS OF 2012 EDITION]