The Word Cloud

I began stalking her three weeks ago.
Followed her through the park,
Making sure she arrived home safely.
I watched her in the dark.
I told myself it was just this once.
An aberration not to be repeated
Lest she find out and is frightened away.
But my will is gone, I’ve been defeated.

I was obsessed with her, had been for months.
Thoughts of her filled every waking hour
And then she haunted me in all my dreams,
Holding me captive with her nameless power.
I had already crossed the ethical line
When I agreed to see her again.
I knew what lay in my heart for her,
But did not care that it’d bring me pain.

I can watch her for hours now,
Outside her window, I hide in darkness.
I watch her prepare and cook her dinner
It’s all completely and utterly harmless.
I take note of the foods she likes,
And tends to cook with the most,
So that when she finally falls for me,
I can act like her perfect host.

I’m seeing her tonight at our usual time
I look forward to it so much
Because she’s mine for a whole hour,
Close enough to touch.
It’s not just lust I feel for her,
I love her, heart and soul.
I’ll do all I can to help her,
Because that’s my job, my role.

She arrives on time, she‘s rarely late,
And settles down in my comfy chair.
Her green eyes are sad and tired today
And there are tangles in her long, dark hair.
The skin beneath her eyes looks bruised
Like she hasn’t slept in some time.
Her skin is as pale as I’ve ever seen it,
She’s beautiful, sublime.

She begins to speak and I lose myself
In all that she is. I’m never prepared.
She tells me how she’s been feeling this week,
That she’s paranoid, lost and scared.
Fearful of a terrible unknown threat.
Lurking in the night.
She swore she heard someone creeping around.
Now she can’t turn out the light.

Then the hour is over, she has to leave
And I ache as I say good bye
I tell her not to be afraid
I don‘t want her to cry.
There’s no one watching her through her windows
At night when she‘s alone.
Those noises she heard are simply the wind,
No one is sneaking around her home.

She need not feel scared to undress or shower,
And hide behind the wall.
No one can see her naked body,
There’s nobody looking at all.
She smiles at me and says thank you
For being there for her.
I nod and say you’re welcome,
As that familiar feeling stirs.

I get to her home as soon as I can
And settle outside to observe.
I feel the tension strum through my body,
As I prepare and gather my nerve.
I’m ready now, I know it’s time.
It’s deadly quiet, twelve o’clock.
I have to have her, make her mine,
I silently break her window lock.