growing up

it was simple then,
when all I had to do was climb into my bed
before darkness fell upon the room
after flipping the light switch
so the ghouls and goblins
and monsters
didn't rip and grab at my feet
to pull me under the bed
into total darkness
to be tortured, shredded, and devoured
bloodied skull and bone,
a meat fan festival

adrenaline of fear steering
to physical safety every time,
the mind a total wreck
masturbation, the happy medium
get me to the daylight