In the stillness of the night,                                

I hear stumbling footsteps.

Cuss words hang in the chilly air.

Darkness greets my fear-laced eyes.

There is drunken laughter and

The stinking smell of cheap cigarettes,

 And throw-up, beer-tainted  breath.

I freeze and I can’t make a sound,

Hoping against hope it’s just a dream.

Moments seem to stand completely still.

My breath hitches in my small throat

And fear squeezes  my beating heart

With such a painful cruel twist.

Terror coats my mouth in sticky paste.

My fists clinch the covers tight and 

I can hear my raspy breathing slow

In the velvet darkness of the night.

A shadow, enters the doorway with a laugh,

And lurches towards the filthy bed.

The bed creaks as she finally sits,

Weaving, drunkenly, back and forth

Like a cobra does, before it strikes.

She leans over and says in slurred words,

“I love you,” unaware of her  cigarette

Burning, soft, youthful, tender skin.                               

Her teeth stand out in stark relief,

In scarlet painted lips that leave a smear

Of lipstick across my rigid face.

I pray silently to Almighty God,

“Please, make her go away.”

And mercifully, He does.

Yu/stan/kema.