Nayeli In a Dream

for Nayeli

I made you a room

in a house that never was—

full of light, music,

and things I saved just for you.

You came with a purse

full of little treasures

and feet too perfect

for this broken world.

I gave you shoes—

soft as breath,

quiet as grief,

sponge soles meant to hold the dream.

But one broke

when I turned away.

And you—

you knew.

You didn’t cry.

You just

slipped back

into whatever veil

lets daughters visit

but never stay