This Haunting
Written By: Kelsey Syble
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/jerrick/image/upload/d_642250b563292b35f27461a7.png,f_jpg,fl_progressive,q_auto,w_1024/62de0e9d27c4c60020b7a979.jpg)
Sketches of a heart
in permanent ink
on thick elegant cardstock.
Tracings of a body
in lighthanded pencil
on cheap notebook paper.
Reimagining malicious apathy
into heartfelt friendship,
and forced pleasantries
into sincere compassion.
Delusions were born as a result,
if only to erase
the inescapable pain
of the deadliest game
she would ever play.
Chasing the passion
she found in books
and watched on the screen
led to this haunting.
His paper was crumbled
and burned in a fire
as if it were evidence
of something sinister.
But her cardstock was saved
in a locked box she couldn't find,
until the conversation of clarity
was eventually denied.
In the wake of tears
over wasted years,
she realized this was a blessing.
She had been set free.
So in the treacherous aftermath
of what she now knows,
she is left with one question:
Can you forget this haunting?
About the Creator
Kelsey Syble
A Southern-born-and-raised writer now navigating life in NYC.
📸 🎥 @kelseysyble
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Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Comments (11)
“She had been set free.” I could feel the anxiety and stress throughout the entire poem up until that line. <3 Excellent use of words, poignant and evocative.
Wow, this was breathtaking and relatable and most certainly haunting! I'll be thinking about this one for a while, great work Kelsey!
Wow! This is powerful. The very first three lines had me captivated. This is, unfortunately, an all-too-common experience nowadays, as much as people refuse to talk about it. Excellent work. I'm so glad I subscribed.
Wow, Kelsey, the metaphors here are stunningly tragic. So well crafted! The theme of self-delusion here is clear, and I love seeing how you use the thickness of card stock and permanent ink to contrast his thin notebook paper and light pencil scribbles, easily burned. The differences between each person's love and corresponding depth is just incredibly rendered here, and I truly adore your ending, of freedom, yet still with that haunting of what could have been, what ended up being, and the potential to repeat the same mistake in the future. Incredible texture and atmosphere! I really enjoyed this.
Wow. This is fabulous.
This is definitely not forgettable. So glad Poppy's piece brought me here. You have a new subscriber.
Fantastic evocation of their suffering investments, and the dangerous hopes she had. I loved the reimagining malicious apathy bit, I think we all know that scenario.
This was so poignant and relatable. I think sometimes, we just cannot forget it. Loved your poem!
I can't. Powerful imagery & haunting heartache.
Hey, just want to let you know I shared this poem in Poppy's Preferences. https://vocal.media/journal/poppy-s-preferences-pt6
Incredibly written!