the demons aren’t in my head
they are the voice of my mother
telling me to be at grandmother’s before dark
before the wolves come out of hiding
looking for some fresh, innocent prey someone new and young
unaware of the forest at night
they are shadows in the woods
shadows that slink around, silent but deadly
their mouths salivating
at the sight of the girl in the red cape walking alone
their stomach growls, hoping for one tasty morsel
they haven’t eaten in so long
i can feel their breath as i pass them
holding mine, hoping they will not notice
that i can creep by and be left alone
and once i reach grandmother’s house i will be safe
because the wolves cannot reach me there
or can they?
they were once men, so i am told
an old wives’ tale, i’m sure
what kind of man is that foul?
the forest paves the way to the streetlight
it is still a long way to grandmother’s house
but the wolves do not like light
they prefer the dark, where no one can hear them
and you, as you scream while they devour you
they are hunters, patient and deadly
never satisfied, they always hunt for their next meal
this is their favourite game and i have unwittingly become a part of it
my red cape serves me little protection
but i shiver from the cold and fear and wrap it around me all the same
tighter, as if i can disappear under it
grandmother made it for my sixteenth birthday
“red is the colour of pride,” she said
“a reminder that you are in your own control”
then why do i feel so powerless as their stares follow me?
they slowly creep out of their hiding places, ready to pounce
saliva glistening from their sharp teeth
their mouths frothing at the prospect of fresh meat
i turn and run, down the familiar road
i have crossed so many times
usually, it signifies my arrival at my destination
tonight, safety
at last, the door shuts behind me
the wolves unable to reach me
behind the wooden door they are unable to open
i breathe a sigh of relief as i watch them slink back into the night
the demons aren’t in my head
but everyone says they are
Publishers note: this poem was originally posted on the author’s personal Tumblr blog (purpleraccoons.tumblr.com) on January 16 2019