By: Ruhani Chhabra
winter
the days are short
which means that darkness
is longer. you may not be able to see
them, but you can feel their presence. sometimes
you are lucky and they spare you with lewd howls that
ring in your ears weeks after it occurs. the scent of vulnerability
drives them wild. only the naive feel protected underneath the baggy
clothing. it’s a known fact the wolves’ senses still heighten for skin. some
say if you are covered, you are no longer bait. that is underestimating the extent
of their imagination. they salivate at the slightest temptation. and for the wolves,
everything is temptation.
summer
the days are long
which means that their
patience is shorter. they are
tired of watching and ready to
pounce. they reek of terrifying depravity
and if you tell them this, they are quick to growl
in denial. but their stares burn your skin and there is
no sunscreen to protect you from their damage. only the
escape routes you plan in your mind as you walk past them.
or the dialogues you have memorized. i’m waiting for my boyfriend,
i’m waiting for my brother. because the wolves accept you more when
you’re considered the property of another. still, they have time to kill. you
are time. precious but treated at their disposal. sometimes you are lucky and
they leave it to their imagination. they can’t handle temptation. and for the wolves,
everything is temptation.
Ruhani Chhabra is a sixteen-year-old writer from California. She enjoys reading and listening to music.