Long Night

behind closed doors is where you hide.

where your body creaks and cracks

shifts into its monstrous form

the winter chill flutters through an open window

the night air cool against peeling skin

you don't have to see the moon to feel its hypnotizing pull

you've done this hundreds of times

but it never gets easier

the pain never dulls

the hunger never stops

teeth grow sharp, gnawing on imagined prey

claws dig into splintered wood, barring similar marks from past nights

fur sprouts from split skin, a warm blanket you use to hide

heavy breaths turn ragged

your body fights against your mind

threatening to take away the last thing that makes you human

you curl up beneath your bed

waging war on yourself

fighting down the longing taste

of fresh blood down your throat

it's just one night

one of thousands more

you grit your teeth

knowing this will pass

wishing you had something to distract you from the pain

the temptation

wishing you didn't have to hide yourself

behind closed doors