stolen in the night
i was taken prisoner last night.
someone cloned my life right down to my loveable beagle and two existential cats.
i was awakened by the sound of my cups and saucers, sheets and glasses clanking in a box made of glass being carried by a shadowy man into another room.
the door slammed shut in front of me
but i could see myself in the other room
in the same same life i had in this room.
i could see myself looking back at me
my face becoming clouded with fear.
but then i changed.
i began to walk more freely, with confidence and bravado
i began to take the shape i had been in this room only seconds ago.
was that even me?
i don’t know.
i shook the door knob to the other room.
to the other me.
it was locked.
was i standing in a hallway?
maybe it was my imagination
or my desire to go somewhere.
each time i hatched a plan to leave the room to get my life back
a hooded figure would appear
and disapprovingly shake their head.
they always took something away from my life
each time i tried to leave
one time it was hope.
this time it was a silk pillow.
i looked through the window and saw my pets playing with the other me.
i cried so hard someone came in
and took my tears right out of my hands.
only the bathtub was left.
i filled it with warm water
and saw the reflection of the light from the ceiling in the shimmering water.
i dunked my head under to soften the pain
and heard music.
glorious music!
trombones, violins, clarinets - the harp!
i lifted my head from the water.
silence.
i dunked back down again.
this time a frivolous laugh, the banjo and the sound of birds tweeting a sweet melody.
i could hear a world inside that porcelain tub.
my spirits lifted.
maybe I could escape through the drain.
maybe someone could hear me if I cried out under the warm water.
i lifted my head.
silence.
mostly.
a faint scratching at the door to the other door
that led to the other me.
i leapt out of the tub and ran to the door.
i looked down and saw a sliver of light streaming through.
i kneeled down
and squinched my eyes to see what was on the other side.
my beagle, shrunken down to the smallest of sizes
was crying out to me
yowling and yowling at the top of her tiny lungs.
i reached out to her under the space in the door
and she lept into my hand.
as I pulled her back towards me
she grew larger and larger
until she was the size she was when they took her from me.
fueled by joy i went back and looked again
and saw my tiny cats sitting side by side waiting for me.
next to them were my dishes, my sheets and my lights.
some hope.
i looked again
and there i was.
as small as could be
sitting on the ground holding a tiny silk pillow.
i reached out to me
and i jumped into my hand.
i began to grow again
back to who i was
before i was stolen in the night.