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.