the cover picture does not belong to me

nothing to see here

[Billy: close your eyes and count backwards.]

But backwards from what?

[Maureen: huh?]

From ten? twenty? ten million?

[Maureen: don't worry about it.]

I'm not worried!

[Billy: okay, I won't.]

(You realise that wasn't for you.)

[Maureen: ready?]

Hide hide hide hide hide hide hide hide hide hide

   - behind the door?

- under the bed?

         - in the dusty crook under the stairs?

  - within the folds of the curtains?

  - inside the wardrobe?

[Billy: Come and find me!]

Maureen walks around, prowls, a big cat in a small jungle.

I am safe, she'll never find me so easily here.

[Maureen: Ha! Found you! Well done Bil!]

[Billy: I thought I almost had it in the bag!]

You keep from laughing, giggling, shivering, trembling - moving.

You are still, breath held the way small children hold onto treasures,

bits of plastic wrap, somebody else's forgotten coin, a blade of grass.

Maureen is close, you can hear them, feel them - Billy, too

Your heartbeats thump in your ears

You don't know if you should be happy or sad that soon,

defeat will come crashing down on you with laughter and tickles.

Her shadow is at your feet. Her hands - her hands must be reaching for

[Maureen: I don't need an extra coat right? It's not so cold today.]

A chill travels your legs. Sweat breaks out in your palms.
You try not to let your face touch any of the coats.

[Billy: I think it'll be fine without one. It's not that cold.]

[Maureen: Alright.]

They leave, bringing with them small talk and comfortable shoes.

The sound of the front door clicking shut.

Right. Nothing to see here.

You look down at your toes, still curled from the leftover tension - 

There's nowhere for your limbs or your eyes to go now. Your mind

unravels like toilet paper or thread or exposed film.

They won't find you.