October 31

The night of frights.
I was a vampire.
She was a witch.
He was the Grim Reaper.

Second neighborhood
Sore stomachs
Sore feet
Sore mouths from smiling
Bags a little heavier
Shoulders a lot lighter

Third neighborhood
She laughed too wildly
But we all did
I assumed it was the Snickers,
But I began to see something in her eyes
Only when I was looking for it
A glimmer, a gleam
A secret plot she hadn’t yet revealed.

Fourth neighborhood
He was a bit too serious
Too sullen, sad
And his scythe began to shine like steel
I assumed it was the moonlight
And I assumed the fallen person behind him
Had tripped
But why wouldn’t he stand up?

Last neighborhood
Her face had grown waxy
In a way no costume makeup could create
And the broom in her hand
Was she even holding it anymore?
Or was it drifting alongside her?
And her smile was making her face stretch
In unnatural ways.
Like wax melting down a candle.

But no
I was just tired.

And when he walked
Did that patch of grass shrivel,
Beneath his feet?
Did he have feet?
Was he just gliding on air?

No, its just getting dark out.

Almost home
Laughing through
My fanged teeth
Began to feel real
And it scared me
My skin was an unnatural pale

But it was just the streetlights?

Pawing through my candy
Not finding something satisfying enough
I was thirsty
For what

Rather, for who?

But I wasn’t stupid
Blood or not
And when death walked toward me?
I flew away.

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