DARREN ANDERSON lives in Nanaimo, BC, Canada. He is an internationally published poet, and his work has appeared in over 25 publications.

                                                          etched in pen


Danielle slips into the tight space she calls her second home. A draft of cold air rips through the alley, whistling through the corners of Danielle's cardboard shelter. Her wind brushed raven hair waves across her bruised temple, tickling her parched lips. A sanctuary from abuse can be found in the strangest of places. Even the dark spaces between Fifth and Main provide an invisible haven. Nearly every day at exactly 3:31 p.m., Danielle runs down the pine-gnarled trail from St. Agnes private school to the alley. For fifteen minutes, she escapes her mother's granite hands.

Drawing a short candle from her crested sweater, Danielle strikes a match and lights the wick. White wax rolls down the candle's stem, puddling on the dirty cardboard. With her toothpick fingers, she plants the candle firmly in the hardening wax. Danielle hunches back, letting the platinum glow of the candle light dance on the sand colored interior. Danielle keeps all of her dreams here, carved letter by letter with a ballpoint pen. Every entry is scribbled quickly on the walls, as to complete her thoughts before they are ripped away.

In this cramped space, Danielle creates a key to freedom, a freedom she aches to have. In this plain little box, there is only enough room for her and her dreams. Nothing else could fit.

Danielle would not allow it.

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© 2003 Darren Anderson