My Stalker

My Stalker
by Tamra Gibson

I have a shadow,
do you see it?
No, no, not that one.
Not the one you see through the light.
I've told you about it before.
The one that stalks me,
hovers over me while I sleep.
It creeps and crawls as it stalks me.
It attacks me.
It strikes against my skin, my muscles, my bones.
It loves to hear me whimper quietly.
It drinks my tears.
You still can't see it?
Would it help if I pointed it out to you again, will you see?
What if I named it?

It's called pain.