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The shadow of darkness by David Barger 2009-11-06 07:56:48 |
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No alarm calling out my name. My eyes were wide opened. My younger brother lay asleep Underneath in the bottom portion Of our double bed; His breathing pouring out in rhythmic measures With the slightest pause Before breath regained its play, And I turned onto my right side Facing the only window in our room In view of the white ash tree Whose lower branches skimmed The top window pane Occasionally touching the glass When provoked by the wind. Lying there, gazing out of the window I began to find my way To the comfort zone of rest When I noticed the silhouette of a person Standing outside of my window Appearing to look directly at me, And I drew off my covers Ready to make the long jump to the floor Knowing my feet would carry me Away from the stranger outside Into the safe haven of my parents bedroom; Where the shout of my voice Would awaken them to our rescue, And cause the eerie presence to flee. My hand still clung to the top of my covers, As I realized the silhouette was in my room. A cold chill overcame me. There was no escape from this terror. My body began to shake Trembling with fear, And my eyes could not look away From the shadowy figure standing before me. It stood perfectly still In the light Coming off the lamp Across the street Which shined into the window, And I could make out clearly The transparent lines forming this body Where no facial expressions could be seen, As the light passed through its apparent shape. There was no heaviness of breathing Coming from someone who had Broken into a home, And getting caught Knowing they were in a place Where they were not allowed; No hint of breathing at all. My muscles tightened Throughout my body, As my breathing became very shallow Waiting for its next move. Seeming like forever Frozen in the state of helplessness; My eyes dared not to blink Wishing I could become invisible, And find a way out of this situation. Then without warning It raised its arm Pointing towards the ceiling, And I, I did the only thing conceivable In the mind of a ten-year-old boy; Throwing the covers over my head I whispered over and over again My God, take this away, take this away! Repeating the words again and again Until the air under my covers Began to smother me with its weight. The sheets on my bed Were drenched with sweat Pouring out from every gland Found in my shaken state of being. Finding it hard to breathe I had to come up for air Not wanting to surface, And face that fear which had overcome me. I held my breath Letting the covers, ever slowly, Be drawn down from my face. Turning first with my eyes I looked upon the window of my room. The shadow was gone. I peered around the entire room With the covers clinched tightly Being held directly near my face. Nothing. The room was empty Of the presence that once haunted me. I laid there in bed, Eyes wide open Waiting for the morning sun To awaken me from my nightmare. Waiting for the light of day To shine into my room That I may find enough comfort To fall once again into the stronghold Of peaceful sleep.
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