Hiddenly Stalked Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

Inspired by a memory when I was nine years old, walking down our dirt road through the forest alone. (it was a little over a mile to home) .
Enjoying the fresh air, walking, happy, thinking, when I suddenly heard something walking alongside of me, off the road and on the other side of the brush. I tried not to be frightened, was afraid to run, because whatever it was might start chasing me.

I held my fear in tightly and forced myself to walk just a little faster, and I heard the creature pick up speed also. Deciding not to slow down, I pushed myself to keep walking, holding my breath at times in fear. Finally, seeing my house, heart beating faster, hoping I could get inside before whatever it was came after me.

Suddenly, my Dad came out the door and walked to meet me, I was never so glad to see him as in that very moment. Finally, I threw caution to the wind, and ran to him, hugging him and telling him that something was following me along the road, but I couldn't see what it was. He told me to go inside and went to check it out. A while later he came back and said he didn't see or hear anything. Never again did he let me walk home alone again, he would walk and meet me at the bus stop, then we'd walk home together.