Shining

They looked at her like 

she was a few steps

from shining.

She was a few endless nights,

with tears and mascara running down her face,

from a shot at some healing.

If anyone needed hope, it was her.

Hope would be the thing to save her

because she had seen things

no one with a beating heart and shaky hands

should see.

Hope would heal her.

And, love.

Love would bring the bandaids she didn't know

she would need. 

Then she would heal, one step at a time.

And find herself falling into courage.

Then, when they saw her, they would see.

She has fought to be

and she never stopped shining.