The demons are here again
their sickly presence behind me
makes me feel bitter hate
and so I flee

I flee to stay one step ahead
hearing their calls in the forest around me
tempting me to capitulate
and so I push a little more

legs strain heart bleeds
breath warm and moist and ragged
across cracked lips
the voices still call

They are closer now
taunting, clawing memories
of a dysfunctional place
not even home

dizzy now
panting, crying
a salty mess of sweat, tears
the price of escape

and so I press onward
until the moment approaches
the physical pain only growing
legs falter

and I continue
stay one step ahead
always one step ahead
from the monsters of the present

left leg gives
then right
my body collapsing beneath me
and the voices finally cease

satisfied to break my body
because I won’t let them in my head
and so I lay spent on the damp earth
relieved that they didn’t catch me

at least not today.