My first love was the moon
I slept in a converted attic after I was adopted
Looking out over a cemetery
In the distance was a hospital but I thought it was a college

One evening a werewolf appeared in my room
Wanting to allude an air of confidence, I asked it to take me to the toilet
I knew Red Riding Hood tricked a wolf once so I could too
The werewolf growled “No” and I figured I’d outsmarted it because it didn’t eat me

But I survived that night so I knew I was here for the long run
I wasn’t supposed to open my curtains but I did
Watching the sky from the comfort of my bed
Smiling at the big orb watching me, winking in solidarity

I rarely felt alone after that
For a month I had an allergic reaction to a fruit juice with artificial colourings
I gurgled and spluttered after I drank it
My belly swelled and I thought I looked like the moon

I laughed and ran around the attic
The family doctor said I was going through a phase
“Like the moon” I thought!
But my parents stopped the fruit juice and nights became quiet again

I fall asleep and blowing a kiss
Thirteen-and-a-half-thousand nights have passed

first published in Readable