“My grandma is known for being a hostess
She invites all kinds of people into her house
She asks strangers over for Sunday night dinner,
Acquaintances come to Thanksgiving,
Distant relatives and a friend of a friend are there at Christmas
She told me that with her, everyone has a place at the table
A family when they don’t have one
I guess her offer even extends to monsters
The shadow walks in with a smile and I don’t have the nerve to scream because this is a party
To be fair, it’s not her fault that painful flashbacks aren’t exactly dinner conversation
No one wants to hear about that time when the well dressed boy over there decided he didn’t need to ask permission, least of all me
We say our thanks to my grandma’s God in a big circle, hands clasped
I wonder if the shadow’s food is blessed the same way ours is
Inside my brain, I bang my head against the table
I throw the remote at the TV and tell the goddamn Alexa to stop playing the “Calming Jazz” station
But outside, I down my martini and ask for a refill
A few more down my throat and I’m staring at him with glassy eyes
Across the room I’m daring him to make the first move
Because despite his power, despite his greed and his thirst and his manipulation
It is then that I decide I will eat in peace
One day, I will have a house of my own
And everyone will be welcome to my food
Everyone, except for anger and fear
They are guests that are much too hard to host.”
- @probably-not-interesting