• Serenity sat on her bed and listened to the music

    Playing over and over on the music box

    It was her most treasured possession

    It had been a birthday present to celebrate her tenth birthday

    It was a haunting tune and the pink ballerina pirouetted and danced

    To the tune and the music box play on and on

    Serenity was now 35 and had lived here for 10 years

    She had been engaged to Steve

    They had first dated at the school prom

    Just after her 16th birthday

    They had gone on holiday to Spain and Cyprus

    Bought a home together

    And soon they would be married

    But one night he found Steve in bed with her sister Sapphire

    She had screamed at both of them

    She screamed so much that she passed out with nausea

    She was taken to hospital and stayed over a few nights

    When she returned home Steve had move out

    A week later she discovered he was staying with Sapphire

    They both laughed at her and shouted "poor Serenity"

    One night soon after she took an overdose of sleeping pills

    Her mother found her slumped over her bed

    She was taken back to hospital

    And although she recovered physically

    Her mind could not deal with the shock of recent events

    She returned to her childhood lost in daydreams

    She was moved to the psychiatric ward

    And there she remained for ten years

    Some of the patients complained about the music going on and on all day

    The same simple haunting tune

    It drove them to distraction

    But it was the only thing that helped Serenity to stay calm and relaxed

    She remains there to this day listening to her music

    Lost in childhood dreams of innocence.