Lonely Walls

The house stretched wide,

a hollow drum

that swallowed every breath

until it almost choked me.

The floorboard creaked—

a sharp, quick crack—

the wind rattled glass

and then silence

so thick I felt it press

against my skin.

The streetlamp’s glow

filtered weak through curtains,

shadows pooling deep,

the room waiting

like a stranger

I couldn’t quite see.

I held my breath

until it cracked,

and the night kept folding me

inside its quiet hands.