A beach in winter
Icy water whipping my skin
Tears mingling with the salt water
as a million grains of sand cut me like shards of glass.

A playground that is empty
Except for me and my childhood bully
Who has grown claws and teeth
And breaths hot air down my neck as he chases me.

Darkness and my mother’s voice
Hands reaching for me
Flashes of light
An empty room and a locked door.

A bed that is swallowing me whole
Spits back out my screams
Am I dreaming?
I can’t remember.
I open my eyes
And the hands
always the hands
reach for me again.