The Dark One

The beast waits in the dark behind the trees. Snarling, drool dripping, no, pouring from its mouth. Its eyes are red. , blood red. And in the night, that’s all I can see. Those eyes, watching, waiting to claim my soul. It watches me every night as I sleep. It’s deep snarling that once made it impossible to sleep, is now like a lullaby, guiding me to that other world. The world where everything is possible and nothing is real. That’s where I like to spend most of my time. In that other world. It’s more real to me than this one ever could be. I have never fit in here. People shy from my very existence, and no matter how kind I am they hate me. But in that other world, I am welcomed, revered, honored. When I wake up, I curse the beast for allowing me to stray back to this world. But it always comes back. Every night it returns. Maybe tonight……… I lie down and hope this will be the last time.