They never come out in the light – they´re afraid.

In the light their weakness can be easily spotted.

So they wait.

They lurk behind dead trunks of trees which the violent wind has uprooted.

They hide behind cold stones in dark corners – and with eternal patience – they wait.

They always come out when it´s dark – they would never miss one chance.

They leave all their hiding places and they come out and form a circle around me, laughing at me with their blood freezing shrieks, rolling their eyeballs, dancing wildly.

And the wind gets tighter.

I light a candle. It helps keep them away.

In the candle light they look so small and helpless, that I almost feel sorry for them – such cowardly little creatures they are!

But sometimes the candle goes out – the flame wanes and dies and it´s dark again. And sometimes the wind puts it out. (The wind is their friend, and it wails and shrieks just like them.)

– And then they grow bigger. And bigger. And bigger.  In the dark they fill the infinite space all around me – and they´re shapeless and nameless –

They take up all the air –

I breathe them –

I choke –

They move closer

I scream –

They swallow my scream – I can´t breathe, I can´t breathe!!!

-

I pray - - -

אב תש"ס