In the early light, their faces appear
Livid and gray, with the weight of despair
Cement dust clings to their skin
As they toss and turn in their troubled dreams
I see them there, struggling to find rest
Their jaws moving as if chewing on air
Submerged in their own inner turmoil
They are haunted by the specter of death
\"Stand back, leave me alone,\" I want to cry
I have not taken from anyone
I have not stolen another’s bread
No one has suffered in my place
But still they linger, a misty presence
A constant reminder of the burden I bear
I did not choose to live while others perish
It is not my fault that I continue to breathe
I long for them to fade into the fog
To release me from this guilt that weighs me down
To let me live and eat and sleep in peace
But for now, they remain, a haunting whisper in the night. (\"Survivor\") by Courtney Weaver Jr.