by

THOMAS G RICHARDSON

You lie in bed at night
Surrounded by a deep blackness
Unbroken by light from bulb or moon
Monsters may lurk within your touch
They wait keeping you from dreams

You fall asleep but wake
A noise, a movement, perhaps a sigh
Is someone else breathing close by
You hold your breath, your heart beats faster
No sound breaks the dark you breath again

Cold air touches your cheek
From an open window
You're all alone no one to help
You pull the covers ever closer
Eyes widening to pierce the night

You know there's nothing there
Just pictures from your mind
Nothing to fear, nothing to harm you
But is there?
Can you be sure?
What if:

While lying in the dark
you stretch out
To feel if anything is there
What shock, surprise or horror
If something takes your hand!