Horror Story

 

My niece’s classmate kept a pet

snake coiled next to her in bed.

 

One night, the girl found the snake

stretched out straight along her side.

 

She thought it was sick and took it

to a vet who said, “It’s not ill.

 

It’s trying to measure when it’s

long enough to swallow you up.”

 

*

 

My friend married the man of her dreams—

handsome, romantic, a home of his own.

 

One year into their marriage, she found

him with another woman in their bed.

 

Before the counsellor, the man said,

“It’s what I am. Didn’t mean to hurt you.”

 

One night, my friend woke up and saw

the man curled up, breathing in his sleep.

 

*

 

She walked away without a sound.

 

21 January 2011, Hong Kong Jockey Club