What Fear Whispered Before
Containment.
The stones held sound once more,
a hollowed hush on muffled door.
footfall lands a half-step
out of time,
a closeness sliding in,
across the line.
In echoes held
before no goodbyes,
while sound still hovered,
and silence stays inside.
sting sharp under fingernail,
left.
breath closes
neck, jawline tighten
left.
shudder within.
again.
In cold that crossed
and did not stay,
in nameless sounds
that stayed within.
And something settled,
soft, and slow:
not all that’s dark
needs room to go.
Inspired by a request from Hawtorn V. Rabot if I had any darkness.
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Your order: Darkness™ (One Size Fits All)
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Status: Delivery complete — recipient unavailable
Last recorded location:
No longer outside.
No longer waiting.
Carrier note:
“Recipient did not answer.
Phone rang into absence.
Visual confirmation unnecessary.”
Arrival window:
No longer applicable.
ㅤ
Delivery summary:
No signature obtained.
Door remained unanswered.
Silence verified.
Conditions satisfied.
ㅤ
Darkness™ status:
Released from transit.
No longer requires a destination.
Has assumed nearest viable position.
ㅤ
Collection instructions:
Do not attend.
Do not contain.
Do not explain.
Identity has already been confirmed.
ㅤㅤ
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paid subscription is how that happens here.
Everything I publish publicly stays public,
paid support just helps make the work possible.
I’m always open to thoughtful writing collaborations.
Other prose and poems.
Nothing truly leaves — it just changes how it stays.
If something moved in you — a silence that whispered — I’d love to hear it below, or in my DM’s.
All artwork courtesy of NDjin Gallery
Well, that was unsettling in the most polite way possible. I feel like I just tripped over a shadow, stubbed my emotions, and somehow still want to read it again. I appreciate how it manages to be both precise and elusive, leaving just enough shadow behind to make me wonder if my spine is still in the room. Not all darkness needs an exit sign, but apparently it does need a very polite, well-timed nudge. Efficient, haunting, and mercilessly precise.
I think you know from reading my poetry how much I feel this: "not all that’s dark
needs room to go." 🖤🖤🖤