And when the light came, the darkness was confused
and flew under the skirting. We tried to get it out
with a broom handle and a ruler but it was like the
time my friend’s room was infested with ladybirds
which bred like ladybirds in her wainscot. I made
the others leave and tried to coax it out. We talked
about everything the moon and space and what the
darkness wanted to be when it grew up but still it
hugged the insulation between the walls like a
blanket. Eventually we left it and went back to the
lounge pretending not to hear its gentle sobbing.
Later when I returned to my room it was sitting
wearily hunched on my bed waiting for me.
Hello I said. Hello it said.

First published in The Literateur.