notdeermag
You were not prepared, Melody Wang
for the quiet return,
an alabaster hand on the red curtain
reaching gnarled fingers for buried answers
in rat-infested tunnels that still bloomed
with mildew. In the distance, you sense
the forested fog creeping in. Your footsteps’
crunch on gravel distracts you from the faint
scent of gardenias as ghosts ignite and part ways
once more — turn around and you’ll see
them standing in windless trees, solemn
eyes following those last bits of stagnant
energy heavy in their intended snare
turning, always turning, your stomach lurches
at the growing stench of fear, an unholy
penetration of the woods that reveals itself
to be the very thing you thought you had escaped
Melody Wang currently resides in sunny Southern California with her dear husband. In her free time, she dabbles in piano composition and also enjoys hiking, baking, and playing with her dogs. She is a reader for Sledgehammer Lit and can be found on Twitter @MelodyOfMusings.