Hypervigilant Shit

the cat has jumped onto the foot of the bed

silly

me

remember

the cat is dead

but I think that’s his purr

and his lick

on my ear

and the stale sound

of footfalls

that means

he is near

I left the bedroom door propped open

to let in some light

now the fragile line has gone dark

I am alone

shadowed in fright

I think

I hear whispers

I sense someone near

I smell my own sweat

bathing in fear

I let my feet fall

to the side of the bed

I cannot just lie here

alone

in my head

but as my toes touch

the cold of the

floor

it is then that I know

what lurks

at my door

I cry out and

duck down

and hide

under the bed

it’s me,

a dead cat,

and the thoughts

in my

head

keep my eyes closed

count backward from

ten

don't turn around

don't ask why

just ask

when