Disclaimer: Dustfinger and the Inkheart Trilogy are the property of Cornelia Funke. I am not Cornelia Funke. And this is not my beautiful keyboard.
Prompt #10: Years
"How long have you been here?"
A humorless chuckle.
Long enough for laughter to turn bitter.
Long enough for a smile to be sad.
Long enough to be tired of counting.
Long enough to forget familiar faces.
Long enough to learn my lesson.
Long enough to learn the meaning of "desperation."
Long enough to sell my soul.
Long enough to wonder if I'll have anything to return to.
Long enough to run out of tears.
Long enough to give up.
Long enough to give up on giving up.
Long enough to adapt.
Long enough to fall in love.
"Too long."