in my youth
i would sprint up
the 16 stairs from my basement
the only light switch at the bottom
and in the dark, I  forced my way to the top
my feet fast as lightning
so the monsters lurking in the dark
wouldn't catch me;  they couldn't take my soul

but then I  got older
and the 16 stairs in the basement
didn't seem as daunting
i don't run up the stairs anymore
because i don't fear the monsters

a small piece of me
hopes that perhaps if i go up the stairs too slowly
they will catch me
and take my soul, envelop me in the darkness
i know they cannot pull me any further down the hole of darkness
that i dug in my brain