The White Elephant in the Room

She didn’t need Christmas

Some people had Christmas, she had new moons.

As a child she’d pouted after winter break,

hearing of piles of presents under decorated trees,

but only until she realized for those kids

Christmas came but once a year.

They bubbled over toys they tired of within weeks.

She could still smile at every gift she’d unwrapped throughout the year

year after year.

She didn’t need Christmas.

*

New moon means dark night.

Sleep comes easy, but it doesn’t stay.

Midnight blackness suffocates, paralyzes…

but it is almost a welcome feeling.

At least she doesn’t have to breathe, doesn’t have to move.

Breathing so shallow and being so still makes her pass out again,

and surely her breathing returns to normal

when dreams she won’t remember take over.

New moon means winter break is almost over.

Winter break’s end means back to school.