The Other Side of Paradise

Written by Holly King
Photographed by Aaron Wagoner

The greatest lie she ever told

herself was that her spine

felt burdened from violet

rosebuds pushing out

of each crack in the cement.

That thorns broke open troves

of forgotten dreams.

No whispers could escape

the other side of Paradise.

Not when she planted the seeds

inside her throat, so deep

that even the reaching fingers

of the sun couldn’t free

the spark tangled within.

The promise of the siren’s litany

said that one day she’d unshackle

chains across her mind. Free the fear

that if she were unleashed upon

this aching world, she’d move waves

with her fingertips, water forests

with each trembling footstep.

If she could unclench her gnashing teeth.

If she could grasp the key unscathed.

If only she dared.