"The Race" Inspired by The Sunlit Man:

The Race

I run all night

every night

to keep myself safe—

safely in the dark.

The sun burns,

they say,

and I’m afraid—

afraid they’re right

afraid I’ll go blind

afraid I’ll turn to ash

and afraid they’re wrong

afraid I’ll get used to the light

afraid I’ll love the light.

And then

instead of running

from the sun I believe will hurt

I’ll run from the night I know

to keep up with the light

that I can’t leave—

that won’t let me go.