Vampyre by Adiella Chapa

This long, eternal line of six people,
Separate me from my enemy, the blood-sucking demon.

Next! The line shortens, my heart starts hammering

Next! My palms are sweating, my hands are shaking

Next! Anxiety seems to be taking root inside my chest,
Sprouting like a flower but feeling more like vines growing out of control

Next! My mom tells me to relax; She doesn’t understand my ongoing torment

Next! I’m next. It’s me. I’m up to face a nightmare I am not ready for.

“Take a seat. You’ll be fine,” they say - will I really?
I am constrained to a chair, locked up, held captive in its arms
The strap cuts my circulation, my breathing escalates; I hold on tight for dear life
“Relax,” they say with fake, pearly smiles, motioning for me to make a tight fist

But all I can really do is close my eyes and pray
For dear life, for all that I am worth, that I don’t
Fall into a d a r
                                    k     o B l i   v     io nnnnnnnnnnnnnnn