Dark Moment

The trees stood as dark silhouettes against the dimming twilight sky. It was that fleeting moment between night and day, when the creatures of day gave way to the creatures of night. The larks and sparrows settled into their roosts for the night, as the dark web-winged monsters of horror film fame began their hunt. The cats that slept lazily in the sun now prowled, eyes glowing and ears attuned. The owl stirred in the distant oak, fluffing its feathers and hooting its hoot. The rustle to my left was a mystery-a deer, a raccoon, or an opossum.

The horizon continued to darken and the traces of pink were devoured by purples and grays. The shadows of the wood deepened and the tree frogs chirped gaily at the prospect of the cooling moon. My shadow was lost and the first star popped into the night sky. I dared not stay a moment longer, lest I become prey to those that walked the night, those that relished the darkness and always moved in shadows-among them the ones that I sought so intently.

Nature's light vanished as my foot met the porch step. The insects were already hitting the bug zapper, causing an intense repetitive hissing sound, as they were fried to ultimate crispness. I stood watching their passionate, frantic, persistence as they sought that which caused heady excitement yet bore the promise of grave consequence. I mused how alike we were. I too was in a passionate, frantic, persistent pursuit of an excitement that dizzied my brain and titillated my body-a quest for that which I knew full well might surrender me to the consequences.