The monsters

Most kids fear the dark. They check under their beds or peek into their closets. Convinced that a monster is waiting to pounce. My childhood friend was no different- she swore something lived in her closet. But I've never been afraid of the creature's children imagine in the night.

The reason why I hesitate to turn out the lights isn't because of shadows or whispers in my room. It's because I know there are far worse monsters than the ones we dream up in childhood. These monsters don't hide in closets or under beds. They don't vanish when the lights are on. They walk among us. They smile, they speak, and they pretend to be just like us.

These monsters aren't deterred by sunlight or locked doors. Security systems don't scare them, and rules don't bind them. They strike when you least expect it, their presence lingering long after they've gone. And once you know they exist- once you've seen them- you can never unsee them.

This isn't a story about childhood fears or imaginary creatures. This is a story about the monsters we avoid speaking of, the ones that live not in the shadows, but in plain sight.