Hollow, haunted, hurting eyes staring at br the ceiling. br Cold, hard, white tile floor a pillow br for my head. br Last gasping, grasping tendrils of reason br slipping from my brain. br Oh the bite of bitter steel; sweet and br welcome pain. br An outstretched palm, ungrasping fingers, br nerve and tendon showing. br A smile of peace, a sob of despair; br blood is thickly flowing. br I close my eyes and now I see that this br is childhoods end; Wasted lives, broken br people and shattered dreams that never mend.