i had forgotten
how lonely i had become--
hid the fact between
the mattress and the box spring.

when i finally unfolded it,
money came out.

when i saw the money,
i knew that i was whole.
that's when loneliness arose.

it looked hungry.
i gave it twenty dollars
so it could buy some rice milk.

when he finished it,
a demon arose.
i knew it as a demon.

i had seen it before
in "similar circumstances."
so i spoke to it by name.

and he shrieked,
contorted his face,
and shook me
until i woke up.