The ceiling was bumpy.
Funny what you notice when you're trying to disappear.
The one light, a lamp in the corner,
Cast shadows on the wall.
I used to play with shadows.
They were my friends.
A twist of my hands and there was a barking dog.
Hands together, moving as one, made a shadow church with a shadow steeple.
The shadows didn't frighten me then...
But the one now...
I couldn't look at the wall,
see the dark shape of a monster
devouring its prey
piece
by
piece
Instead I twisted my head and stared at the carpet -
Bluish grey, tall -
and wondered if there were tiny people
living down amongst it,
hidden from our eyes.
You can stare directly at something...
someone...
and not know what is there under the surface -
a happy family of tiny people...
a frightened little girl...
a monster...
Hiding in the light,
where shadows dwell.