as i swished my feet through the silvery grass last night, heading for the park bench after a run, i wondered if i should worry about snakes. i made more noise as i walked, just in case. i didnt linger at the bench either, though it was a moonlit night and the stars were enticing. in case there were unsavory characters nearby, like the wild rabbits that live in the grove of trees near that very same park, i was alert and ready to flee. i cant say ive ever seen a person of that description in the park, night or day, but i was wary still.

i felt silly for thinking that way.

in truth, i fear many things, nearly all of them more real than imagined.

walking back towards my place, i stared hard at the shadows. i couldnt help it; even as i past the edge of the wood, dark and full of imagined menace, adrenalin flowed and i sprinted the last few feet into the safety of the street lamp.

and even then, i was not truly safe.