The Car Ride

She reclines in the back of the car
Trapped by a destiny that she freely embraces
Submitting to that which she cannot avoid
Chained to both her future and her past

She stares at the faces that pass by
Endless wraiths that drift past her view
Protected from them by the veil on her face
And the veil that covers her heart

Sinking further into her seat
She stares at her reflection in the window
Tracing lines that are familiar to her eye
But foreign to her vision

In her mind she beats the window with her fists
She opens the door and throws herself out
Set free by the pain of release
As her arms and legs scrape the gravel road

But she is immune to such images now
Numb to them from the repetition of use
Silently they beg her for a rest from their work
But she forces them into motion again and again

Later, she arrives at her destination
And she slips smoothly into her role
A consummate actress, playing her part
For a completely unsympathetic audience