It doesn't happen all
at once, the realization.
It creeps up on you and
dogs your footsteps and
makes shadows where there should
be none until you think
you've gone mad.
It will sneak up behind you and
tap you ever-so-lightly
on the shoulder, but you
will turn around and then
tell yourself
you were imagining things.
And then just when you
have gone half-mad for fear
of what
you have done to yourself
It will appear in front of you
and stab you through the heart
with knowledge you cannot deny.