A Problem Child

I’m lucky to say you, Love, have always been in my life. Every day since we’ve become acquainted, I’ve felt obligated to nurture and protect you –not without some struggles of course. See, you’re the fickle child no mother can please. Without any promises of reciprocation, I offer you my most valued possession to satisfy your hunger. Hunkering down at my kitchen table, you begin to eat, and I begin to wonder when your ravenous appetite will cease. I’ve witnessed what happens to the others like me. You follow them –making sure to trace every step with care so they will praise you. Then one day, you leave. Sometimes they won’t notice for a while, until they eventually glance over their shoulder only to find an empty road. Nevertheless, people always want you.
More recently, I hear you clacking at my bedroom window. Since I figure myself smarter than the rest of the names on your list, I urge you, “Not tonight, not again”. Regardless, you find your way in anyways cleverly unscrewing the locks I put on the pane yesterday. But nothing annoys me more than when you watch me as I climb into bed. You sit there beaming, your bright eyes glowing in their sockets as if you’re plugged into the electrical outlet, your sweet and sinister smile engrained in my mind. My bedside prayers replaced with pleas to the heavens to give me peace from the brilliant torment, but rest would only allow my unforgiving subconscious wild pursuit. To any onlooker and even in my own introspection, I had become insane, all thanks to you.
Then you gaze at me with those innocent blue eyes, entrancing me within your words, “I need you; the night is lonesome and frightening”. I think of all the wonderful hours we spent together and start to shed tears. You hold my hand hesitantly, quite unaware and naïve of how to proceed. Despite how much I’d like to be rid of you and your chaotic nature, I will never be able to. So instead, I settle down in my bed and learn to appreciate you in the present. All I can do is hope you will not get hungry any time soon for I have nothing left to offer.