Hello, darkness


My darling friend


You’re here now


Nightmares begin


I crawl into bed


Turn out the lights


There’s no one home


Alone, I will fight


It’s painfully clear


The spirits returned


My legs bare the scratches


The crucifix burned


I wore it last night


It left a large rash


The imprint is clear


My skin has turned black


I woke up this morning


With a bite on my thigh


Left over, the scratches


You inflict as I lie


I’m trying to sleep


To get some kind of rest


Tonight lit a candle


I’m doing my best


Is it under the bed now?


Is it out in the closet?


I’m scared to peer out there


Just trying to stop it


I’m fighting the sleep


Won’t close my eyes


Scratches on the windows


Are my lullabies


I turn and I struggle


With my head under sheets


My skin is all covered


Racing heart skips a beat


I pray to the saints


I pray to the gods


No one will believe me


The hurt that you cause


I cover the scratches


The bites and the burns


I’m praying for peace


So many prayers I have learned


The hours go by


I peer out three o’clock


The hour I fear most


At the door is a knock


I’m holding the covers


Much tighter than before


The knock is consistent


Should I open the door?


This hour is fatal


It’s the time they cross over


I’m shaking and trembling


Wish that I weren’t sober


I take mini steps


Till I reach the doorknob


I look through the keyhole


There is no one, I sob


I run to the bathroom


Quick wash of my face


The moment it stands still


Red eyes, salty taste


I’m crying and heaving


And counting to three


The image I see


Is the image of me


The image, she smiles


And leans on the sink


I shake and I stare


Have no time to think


She cautions me over


And I start to cry


Just end it already


Fight back, yes I try


I look to the image


She looks back at me


I’m crying and shouting


“Go away, let me be”


She’s scratching away


At my skin, feel the pain


She pulls at my hair


As she laughs, she’s insane


She puts up a finger


To her lips, asks for silence


I quiet myself now


She’s stopping the violence


She’s pointing behind me


I’m no longer alone


My neck fills with goosebumps


I’m chilled to the bone


I’m turning around


Then look back and she’s gone


This nightmare will end


With the sunlight at dawn


There’s a yank at my blanket


I’m holding it still


My blood it runs cold


So much fear this instills


I’m sitting up now


And the lights are all bright


They are finally gone


As I greet the sunlight