For my dearest friends, and all others not named here whom I've met over the years.

Kay, my Angel Heart Sister; Kathy, my Twinsy; and Fran, only she & I know why.  Thank you all for being there and helping me through things...and I hope I've helped you as much as you've helped me.  Thank you.

SLK

The darkness overtakes me, within it I sit alone,

all is silent without even a whimper or a moan.

SLK

The cold solitude, the dampness familiar so real,

chills   my body, squeezing life until I cannot feel.

SLK

The darkness is shattered by a small twinkling light,

tiny, yet brilliant nearly blinding my outer sight.

SLK

Warmth which it emits, goes straight to the bone,

pushing out the coldness, in a gentle loving tone.

I grasp for it like a rope rescuing a drowning man,

feel it wrap around me, pushing fear away as it can.

SLK

Warmth  tightens around me or so it seems,

I see a flickering of hope, in darkness it gleams.