What lurks in the night

I can’t write

In darkness,

The absence of light.

I can’t think, breathe, or otherwise exist

In the places that the light has missed.

Too many terrors come flying together

Seeking to leave me scarred forever.

You mean you didn’t see her??

How could you not?!

She’s right over there!

No, she’s moved to another spot.

There! Can’t you see her,

Bent all twisted in the night?

Her hands are reaching for you!

Quickly, turn on the light!

Whew! That was a close one

You almost made the plummet

Into her land of twisted reality,

So I had to save you from it.

Be wary of the shadows!

The light cannot reach over there.

In ’tween spots, her fellows

Wait for the chance

Your guard is down

Then they advance

Creeping ever closer, but

You’re blissfully unaware.

But I see them!

I see them!

Huddled in the black

They’re waiting in the darkness

Every time you turn your back.

I see them! I see them!

Hiding in the halls.

Lurking in the closets,

Scraping at the walls.

Begging to be unleashed

The moment you look away.

They feed on your every agony,

Discomfort, and dismay.

In the darkness, they steep,

Growing ever stronger

Every time you fall asleep.

I don’t know why they all seem to have

this aversion to the light.

The brightness seems to drain them,

Yet recharging every night.

Oh God, you don’t believe me!

The insanity unleashed!

So I must face the night alone,

Every time you are asleep.

She’s back again, I see her,

Standing in the kitchen.

A light to obliterate the night,

But still, another vision:

She’s under the table now!

I see her watching me!

Glaring with the deadest eyes,

Dear God! How does she see?!

Those hands...aren’t human hands,

Knuckles cracking as she beckons.

No! Stay away from me!

The hours turned to seconds.

Hurry! I scurry to turn on all the lamps

Send her away before she gets closer.

I will not give her another chance.

An hour til dawn,

night is almost over.

Outside, I now can hear the

roaring booms of thunder.

The lightning sizzling against the sky,

The storm seeks to pull everything under.

The booms,

the rain pelting hard against the roof

She’s watching me from the hallway,

With a stare both hungry and aloof.

Then a grin so wide,

I can see her rotting teeth.

Why is she smiling

So wildly at me?

Our eyes meet,

I will not turn my back.

Still staring at me,

I hear a sudden crack.

Tears in my eyes as I realize

The power’s gone out and

everything’s gone black.

Too late to fight,

not enough light.

I feel her breath against my neck.

The darkness suffocating me,

tasting me,

Leaving me hollow, meeting with death.

Here you appear, to check on me

Armed with a flash of light.

“Why?” I say. I grin: “I’m fine!

Wow that beam is bright!”

I wrap my hand around your hand,

Kiss upon your head.

Knuckles cracking as I reach the door:

“Come on, let’s go to bed.”