to free herself of echos, haunts,

specters, ghouls, ghosts, and fears - she shouldered her weapon of choice

a dreamcatcher's web of finely woven strands

given to her by the Creator

the nightmares, spun and buzzed and dodged and struck

but then they were stuck

arrested in flight, unable to continue tearing at her hair

unable to keep beating at her with their foggy wings - their accusations leaving streaks of tar and feathers across her shoulders and back

clutching her skin with their talons - pulling and slicing until her skin parted and the life blood welled up 

they screeched as they dangled suspended in the dreamcatcher. She covered her ears and then threw the dreamcatcher in the nearest trashcan

it clanged as she victoriously slammed the lid upon them. silence fell

and for the first time in a long long time 

she saw clearly

She turned and looked to the past

her shadow halted, mid momentum

and she held out her hand, waveringly

afraid to watch the silhouette turn and run again - run forever and never look back

or worse

disintegrate into a cloud of ash when she reached for it

she dropped to her knees instead

and waited for the sun to set

and her shadow crept closer,

                                           and closer

like a spooked horse, curious to see what had changed

until at last it nuzzled her outstretched hand

and in her mind flashed a hundred brilliant images

vivid autumn leaves whirled around her, sweeping her hair up to join their glorious dance

the wind tickled and caressed her skin

she felt a hand, warm and real, entwined with her own

and attached to that hand was an arm

and attached to that arm was a body

and inside that body was a soul

that loved her

and they lived happily ever after.

the end