“God these bills are getting ridiculous.” Ruby grumbled from the kitchen as she threw the latest bill statement on the counter. Smoke drifted through the air around my face as I reached over and grabbed the bill, my cigarette perched between my fingers as I read over this months power bill.

“Two-hundred dollars for power this month?” I exclaimed, pinching the bridge of my nose between my fingers...

She hesitated at the door, her hand hovering over the doorknob. The sun had set hours ago, the deep moonless dark loomed through the window on the door in front of her. She gripped the handle of the single bag in her hand tighter as she looked back over her shoulder at what once felt like home to her. His sleeping body on the couch, oblivious to what was happening around him, her letter folded up ...

Am I going crazy?

Are they really there?

I feel them with me always

The fabric of reality tears

Everywhere I go

The shadows ripple around me

Figures reaching out, hands and fingers bare

I try desperately to flee

They want me to come with them

Though I know not where

Their whispers are insistent

Saying, “Darling, Please, Come here.”

They are my shadow people,

Dancing in the shade

I’ll never be ...