A Woman's Plight, Male Bonding, Nature, Vampiric Tendencies, Where Demons Tread

In Her Defense

She had not realized until now that her prior freeze shut down had been her primal instinct’s self defensive checking to make sure that he was serious.

Of course, he had thought (possibly quite rightly from his point of view) that his mere sudden presence should have been enough evidence.

But he had not calculated into his equation the true depths that ran between them.

Altered States, The Shower Accident 11/14/25

Still Motion

Stuck in pause
Hearing clunks as others
Go about their activities
And I just cannot muster
The desire to join them
But maybe that’s ok because
They get the space for living
And I show up as a cameo
To be helped getting out the door
And then they get some privacy
Maybe this arrangement’s needed
And maybe I’m on pause so that
I do not hit replay of past memories
For I must guard that door carefully
And maybe my abilities are blocked
To wipe the slate clean for a reset
But this confuses and alarms me
Because I don’t have a quiet space
So that I can think and expand without
Having to curb reaction to stimulus
Staying in one place over time
Allows me to feel ebbs and flows
Yet I feel that I can’t produce
My life is on hold and I need
Yet am afraid to trust guidance
Independence allows room to breathe
Being alone is a known without
Worrying I won’t be enough
Because I need help
And also I know that
Once I recover (if, if, if, if, if)
I will want to fly again
But no man has stayed
When I am weak or strong
Always finding reason
To feel intimidated or let down
By their own lacks projected
Swinging like the disk of
A clock’s pendulum
And if I need help now
If I need saving now
Am I less than worthy
Of a man’s devotion?

(Title of multiple meanings)

Altered States

Wishing I Could

The father in her dream told her forcefully that he was tired of her wasting time “playing injured'” and that she better start getting up at early every morning “like everybody else had to” and get back to work.

She got away from this confrontation, retreating to and locking him out of her bedroom, and fumbled with her phone for too long (dream delay imposed difficulties) to call her mother for supportive backup.

Then she began looking at ads and calling businesses where she could work so that she could move out and reclaim her non-toxuc independence.

As if this was a real option.

Songs, Vampiric Tendencies, Where Demons Tread

My Love, “Reach For Me” (Song)

By Athena Stairs, January 16, 2026

Why are you always hidin’ and runnin’
Can’t you see you’re the one I need

Baby you’ve been cryin’ confidin’
Come to me so we both can feed

Oh Baby I’m dyin’
You’re leavin’ me cryin’

And I don’t understand
But you won’t believe

Oh
Hey

Won’t you believe in me
I tried to make you see

That we were born to be

Why don’t you come and share your frustration?
Nothing’s perfect we’ve always seen

Pulling hair as we scream in vexation
God this world’s just filled with greed

Won’t you have faith in me?
Oh Baby can’t you see?

That you were made for me
No

Won’t you have faith in me?
Won’t you have faith in me?

Our love was meant to be
Have faith in me

—-

Later to add: expansive timing.

(Contact me for permissions)

Listen to Reach For Me – Song 1st Run, Expand Timing 1.16.26.m4a by Candid Corvid Productions on #SoundCloud
https://on.soundcloud.com/E1Vm6bZGnngs6IVTwn