Once upon a time
I knew a girl.

There were stars sprinkled across her daytime face,
her hair was made of dried autumn leaves,
she smelled of lavender and warm dryer sheets.

Once upon a time
I fell hopelessly in love with a girl

who would never fall in love with me.

Once upon a time

the stars rained down from the sky,
and snow covered the leaves and made them rot;
the clothes became dirty once again,
as my glass heart shattered against the hardwood floor.

Once upon a time

there were no stars or leaves
or lavender and warm dryer sheets that smelled of home.

Once upon a time
I knew a girl.

But now
there is

no girl.