Ruth Walters (London, U.K.)

When the world changed around her she hid in the labyrinths of her mind.
She fled down tunnels, old pathways of misspent youth.
She fell deeper into places she'd once been and it hurt.
She revisited old enemies and lost friends she'd forgotten.
When she came to the end of the tunnels she hit the wall.
Reason came to greet her just a tad too late.
The night whisperer licked her cheek,
gobbling her up into damnation.