She slid her feet across floorboards,
creaking like ice beginning to crack.
The living room was basked in a moonlit glow
of blue candlelight. Her vision blurred of distinction
between one chair and the couch like smoke
hazed over her eyes.
Two ankle-heighted green orbs like fog
watched her as a falcon watched its prey.
She heard breath of a choking growl as the orbs
were split into slits. The phantom moved from the shadows
and she saw colorless fur against the moon’s gaze.
It padded after her, nails sliding on the floor
like chalk against a chalkboard. Opening
the white box of sustaining possibility,
yellow light basked over the floorboard.
A yorkie-shih-tzu sat with its tail wagging
against the kitchen tile like feather dusters
against mahogany bedside tables.