In the comfortable stockade of my mind Hide and seek cannot be won Tiptoe away and find a hollow, The solitary spot Slipping between turmoil Festering in alcoves Always waiting; back tensed, Adrenalin sheathing the silence If I remain undetected Perhaps the seeker will ease off, Forget the ollie ollie in comfree Leave me stowed away. Much later, I could creep into safety Call a truce, change spots... Yet unmarred, the same old rules; Vicious whispers that ask of unknown. Meaningful glances and gritted teeth, The shock of lush green eyes chasing down memory lane. Wake up, Maple. Wake up. But I wouldn’t, and it didn’t matter. Because the stabbing whispers would continue inside; Dueling emotions I long ago left at bay. Reside there, waiting. Counting. Watching.