A Thief in the Night

A Thief in the Night

      I awoke with a start as its dark shadow hovered directly above me. It came like a thief in the night as its tendrils; long bony fingers grasped my neck and tried to choke off my air. I gasped, sputtering as its grip grew tighter. I tried to fight back but lay frozen on the bed. As my eyes opened and took in the sight I saw her. She was a hideous old hag; her wild red blood shot eyes starred at me intently as her long gray hair dangled down over my bed. As her mouth opened, in one smooth movement she sucked and seized the breath that was mine. She propelled herself ungainly face first into me. As my body absorbed her, I screamed, I shouted -- to no avail. She found her place in me and she was staying. She managed to change my appearance to hers. I scream and arms pin me down tying me to my bed.

“The mirror isn’t supposed to be there. It’s the Alzheimer's. In her mind she’s only twenty-five.” says the woman to other woman dressed in the odd polyester pant suit

“Should we alert the doctor?” asks the other woman

“No she’ll soon go back to thinking she’s twenty-five years old again and be happy,” the other woman answers.

I am at peace she’s left my body. I’m young again.

©Sheilagh Lee