I originally wrote the project in Spanish and then translated it into English. I hope the text didn't dilute too much in the process. My respect to all professional translators - boy, was it hard.

 

Creature

It’s the dead of night. My friends and I are lighted by the faint yellow light of the lone lightbulb outside my house and the harsh white light of the house across the street. I call them my friends because of the collected way in which I am able to speak to them and because they have managed to step into my garden, but I don’t know who they are. I don’t know what they look like; I only see their silhouettes and none of their features.

These dark silhouettes tower over me and make me lose my sense of place. They feel more menacing than protective. One of them gets closer and their proximity blocks my vision.  They warn me: do not look beyond, you are being watched.

I assure them that it won’t come for me, and should it dare,

I will escape.

I’ve been in this situation before, and I know that when it stands on the other side of the street with its ilk, they laugh and stare at me, waiting for me to return their gaze, but my eyes are tightly shut.

I feel the silhouette’s gaze fixed on me, imploring me not to see it.

Then I feel the temperature drop as they walk away.

I open my eyes and see it watching me.

It draws closer.

It is grotesquely large, devoid of humanity. Its arms are long and thick. I head for my house seeking safety, but the door seals shut and my nervous hands can’t open it. I keep trying as its icy presence looms nearer.

Unlike the comforting warmth of silhouettes,

it only frosts.

There’s no one around me anymore. There’s nothing around me anymore. Just the torment of the creature approaching, a closed door in a void and my futile, tardy attempts to open it.

I close my eyes once more, deluding myself into believing I can evade the inevitable, but I know it’s too late.

I release the handle.

It is right behind me.