she didn't see him slithering.
her heart was pounding,
but everything seemed fine
until she felt him
coiling around her
tighter and tighter
until she couldn't breathe.

she clutched a pocketknife.
with the last drop of
strength she had,
she slashed him
and he slithered away.
after she caught her breath,
she realized he was a snake.

when she was younger,
she thought growing up
was the extinction of
her younger selves
to create an adult self.

now she knows
these past selves
are living within her
and will always be there
as her new self keeps evolving.

she needs to host reunions
and invite her younger selves -  
for fun and memories,
laughter and spontaneity,
to remember her roots.

she felt his gravitational pull
she thought it would lead
to another universe
one glittering with stars.

instead, she was pulled into
a vast, pitch black void -
one with no life to be seen,
in which stars were only a dream.

she could only hear her heartbeat
and his voice tempting her
she started to shiver,
wondering when this would end.

suddenly, she felt a pull
from the people she loved
that pull was strong, urgent -
just what she needed to leave him.

before she knew it,
she was back in her universe,
safe, warm, loved, lively.
the stars were here all along.

whenever their words are sandpaper
that aggressively rubs her heart
and forms stinging cuts,
her hands always reach for
her soft, fluffy, warm blanket.
as it envelops her in its warmth,
her heart heals the cuts
and becomes soft again.

the vibrant plants
and talkative animals
cleared a path for her.
she followed that path
for a while, then paused.
she sat at the bank of the river
watching the leaves go by.
she placed her fears,
doubts, and troubles
onto these leaves,
whispered "goodbye,"
and let them float away.

her teeth chattered
as the frigid wind
surrounded her.
he traced her wrists,
then held her hands.
her teeth fell silent
as his eyes met hers.
in that moment,
she knew he would stay
even during the winter.

our deepest desires
shine under the soft light.
they always catch fire
as we whisper good night.