Nightmare

I am the scream from a distressed child.

I am the shudder from a whimpering girls spine.

I am the tear for the wordless cry.

Every scream, every shed of tears, every sob.

I am the creak from the stairs at night.

I am the shadow, following you.

I am the dank alley-ways were children go missing.

Every echoing footstep, every groaning stair, every shadow.

I am the drowning water, treacherous.

I am the graveyard ghost, haunting.

I am the trickle of blood, flowing.

Every grave, every damage, every terror.

I am the eyes watching you.

I am the voice calling you.

I am the laugh taunting you.

Every follower, every spy, every watcher.

I am the girl at school, pushing you about.

I am the loneliness, the alienation.

I am the bully, giving you heartache.

Every threat, every word, every thought.

I am the spiders, spindly or bulky.

I am the heights, making you feel cowardly, that if you fall no one will catch you. 

I am the darkness, the bleakness of night.

Every fear, every spider, every night.

Who am I?

I am a nightmare.