the rat, continued

the rat is still there

it lurks in the shadows

its claws scratch against the cold stone

the rat persists

it feasts on our true feelings

any sign of our true emotion -

swept up into its maw, teeth snapping hungrily

the rat brings friends to dinner

they nibble and chomp and bite

what a delicacy my hatred for them is

as they sweep it up and eat away at it

never was there, nothing to see here

the rat is manipulative

tells you one thing, does another

it loves drinking in your despair as it tricks you

hope that withers away to dread, fear, pain

the rat is still there

it's here

look behind you