Claws

Standing in the dark room with every one else. They're screaming and crying and moaning and suffering. It's so dark, we can't see each other's faces, so we can't see who it is exactly who's doing what. We keep the lights off so no one will know. I'm screaming with them, but a little bit quieter, because I'm afraid someone will recognise my voice anyways. And I don;t know if anyone else is like me, but the whole time I'm thinking and wondering what would happen  if I just left the room, to get away from all the pain. I consider this, but then I realise that everyone here needs me, because I'm the only one thinking enough to listen, and even if there's nothing I can do I'm the listener, and that's my job, and who knows what would happen without me in that room. But sometimes I get so fed up, and I just want to leave that place and be selfish for once and go off and leave the room and all the suffering people. So I open the door a crack and quietly slip out in to the light. It's blinding at first, but I feel happy and free and wild. But I hear the whispers coming from behind the closed doors still, no matter how hard I try and plug my ears. And a shadowy hand reaches out from behind the crack in the door and brushes at my arm. I shake it off and try to ignore it, but it's there. The whispers are telling me I'm stupid and selfish and I'm neglecting my job. I try not to listen. I want to HELP the people out of the room so they can stay with me in the light, but none of them want to listen. They might make the occaisional visit, but no one is able to stay, they all get sucked back in. I'm different though. I don't get sucked back in. Instead, I get dragged as the shadowy hand reaches out and grabs my arm, pulling me kicking and screaming back in to the darkness.