So young, so brave, the love she gave unsurpassed.

But it couldn’t last.

The monster inside her grew, consuming and constricting.

She battled hard, fought with every breath,

With a sword of defiance raised above her head she faced up to death.

But she couldn’t win.

The hold was too restricting.

The flame flickered weaker, every second a precious grain of sand,

In the far too small egg timer in her hand.

And with a whisper it was gone.

A weak grip to life relinquished,

The flame extinguished.