Both reaching into the dark &. grasping at souls &. forgotten by the gods &. hated by the mortal , embracing in the shadows &. creating a world that fit them. ❝ i’m fine. i have this under control. ❞ voice shaking as the world drowns their softness &. shadows crush them into the pavement. they are scared of the flickering in the mirror , of the way that their skin doesn’t fit at the edges &. their eyes are too bright. their heart is others hands , being devoured &. they savor the taste &. worship Aoi’s life stains their mouths. ❝ just shut up &. dont talk. I need to figure out what is real. ❞ splintering with the heaviness of creation , pulling at strings trying to piece together the knot that won’t come undone. tangled into themself , into a beast that ate their beauty &. wore their skin , prowling the streets. or was that them ? who are they ? ❝ am i ? what ? help. ❞ lights , waning like a siren with infrequent brilliance , a strobe light of the eyes that watch from corners of rooms. they are looking , watching , they are on their skin. the searchlight on the top of the roof where they burnt all their holiness on a pyre. ❝ i dont need help ! im okay !❞ lashing out at the bright lights that pour from closed blinds , creating more unreal to fix the spiraling thoughts.