depression, a nightmare that never let go

she tripped and fell into the abyss.
the claws like
brushstrokes of a pen,
ink-black and serpentine,
latching on her limbs.
her eyes closed;
she was asleep,
but could only see
the backs of her eyelids–
perhaps that itself
was a
nightmare.

he could only watch.
as it refused to let go of her
even when she wanted it to leave.

I love you, it said.
You don’t deserve to be alive.