Dependent

The girl worked through it,
stole nothing,
signs covered with
sleeves and lies.
A house of cards
where they played
happy families,
poker faces bluffing neighbours,
a shitty hand
covered by bridge
and dinner parties.
She worked all through it,
never a clue,
the first people knew
was an ambulance
dazzling at the kerb,
strobe light that
sliced the night
and blunted on
their darkness.
Medics working to
stop the expected
order being broken,
as the stretcher got pushed
and the family shuffled
behind........

by Chris Major