"Stranger in the Night" Inspired by Mary: The Adventures of Mary Shelley's Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter:

Stranger in the Night

He stands there like a vision,

an Adonis under modern streetlights.

Rain attempts to tame his blond curls,

but it can’t quite hid the tears

caressing his too-pale cheeks.

Hunched slightly, leaving against a brick building,

his form tries to remain unseen

while his bright eyes search out mine.

I watch his lips

but hear no sound.

This stranger in the night need me

for something, a task yet unexplained.

Walking closer, my steps slosh through puddles,

emphasizing my inadequacies;

this mere mortal approaching someone more.

“Help me,” his ice-smooth voice entreats,

and there’s nothing I’d rather do.

knowing my reply will ruin his idea

that I am an angel come for whatever help he needs,

I slowly open my mouth to speak.

A scream rushes out,

instead of the words I had intended,

as I see the problem he needs resolved.

His spell is undone,

the beauty of his face shattered.

I take one step back, then two.

Before his parted lips speak to beg again,

My footsteps pound to drown out his voice.

I run to safety with one assurance

that the stranger in the night will not follow:

in his careful hands, he held his perfect left foot.