Nighttime Shadow

At the bedroom door, the shadow pauses

unsure whether to cross this final boundry

silence and darkness calls it forward

I take the step

Into the silent house, the shadow roams

careful not to awake the sleeping family

but it is restless and unwilling to snore

I walk the halls

Over to the kitchen, the shadow sneaks

and is blasted by the sudden light

shrinking back, squinting in the glare

I raid the fridge

Pink tinges the sky, the shadow retreats

savoiring the last seconds of solitude

listening to the snores passing on the stairs

I creep to my liar.

I curl in the covers.

I wake with the others

They are never aware that the shadow had walked among them.