Life's Rainbow

It was a rainbow.

It was red. The colour of a rose, a strawberry, an autumn leaf. The colour of a sunburn after laughing and playing in the sun all day. The colour of an oversized bow in a little girl’s hair.

It was orange. The colour of a marigold, a penny, a maple tree. The colour of a pumpkin on a front step at Halloween. The colour of orange juice through a straw while unwell.

It was yellow. The colour of a bright and shining sun, a polka dot dress, sand at the beach. The colour of butter as it’s spread on some bread. The colour of a lemon as it sits in a fruit basket.

It was green. The colour of trees, a frog, a cactus. The colour of freshly mown grass just before it rains. The colour of a lime slush drink as it gives you a brain freeze.

It was blue. The colour of a cloudless sky, a robin’s egg, juicy blueberries. The colour of a warm blanket on a rainy day. The colour of the overalls on a little boy.

It was purple. The colour of grapes, a butterfly, a violet. The colour of a chocolate bar wrapper as the goodness inside was eaten. The colour of paint as it’s rolled onto the wall.

It was a rainbow.

Until it wasn’t.

It was purple. The colour of bruises on the little boy’s arm and cheek from where he had been abused by his parents. The colour of the robes of a pastor as they molested a child.

It was blue. The colour of depression that had been left alone too long, turning them to suicide. The colour of a car as it came hurtling towards a motorbike, crushing the rider.

It was green. The colour of jealousy as they find out their partner is cheating. The colour of the vomit as someone forces themselves to throw up to stay thin.

It was yellow. The colour of the sky before the smoke as the bomb went off. The colour of the alcohol as it consumed the little girl’s parents to the point of no return.

It was orange. The colour of the fire as it erupted from the forest, the trees fuelling it on. The colour of the warning that no one listened to.

It was red. The colour of fury and hate as they tore each other apart. The colour of blood as it slowly choked the streets, no one noticing how many lives lost until it was too late.

It was a rainbow.