The night sky snaps photographs,
laughs derisively.

A storming paparazzi
searches with strobe lights,
their cigarettes like fiery eyes,
puff, puff of angry beasts.

What's that I see?
Smoke from an unused chimney,
the one where we used to meet.

Lightning needles prick my skin
in places, unpredictably.
I flinch, as outside the storm
itches,
a hall light random flickering.

I want to forget,
but a jolt sends me straight up.
I'm a jack-in-a-box,
completely unhinged.

An image in the mirror,
but she doesn't look like me.

In the whistling wind I hear his voice,
unnerving.

Someone stands by the bed;
a set of eyes scanning me,
a mouth frozen in an '0'
but doesn't speak.

The hunter is now close,
his arrow'gainst my cheek;
a blade bent into cavity.

the weight of him
crushing.

He steals my breath,
or is it hands around my neck?

I wake again with covers wet,
the storm outside not passing.

"You've found me at last, old friend."
I say, to wind and rain,
crying against windowpane.

I thought I could forget,
but oh, how the past can press.

So close.

As close as it gets.

© 2024| K.Hartless

4 responses to “As Close as it Gets”

  1. Very scary, spooky. 👻

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yay. I’m so glad to hear that you had this reaction, friend. There was a real spooky storm here two nights back and it had lots of people rattled. I wanted to harness that this Halloween.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You are welcome, Katie! ☺️

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Ok, I just got goosebumps! 😨

    Like

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