The Black Dog Says…

I am chased by The Black Dog: big, vicious, haunting. I cannot escape it. I see it, but no one else does. It follows me, and seemingly me only. At least, it feels that way. It hangs onto me, digging its wretched claws into my skin. I can feel them piercing through my flesh, drawing blood from my veins, dripping down to the ground, a sign of what’s to come.

The stench is quivering, I hate it. Yet, again, only I can smell it. Only I can smell the rotting spit from its drooling mouth, drip, drip, drip, next to its paws. Its fur wet, disgusting, but unnoticeable to the nose of those around me. Only I seem to be cursed with this sense.

It makes me shiver. I am cold when I’m around it. I feel it coming from miles away, as goosebumps form and my body shakes. A terrible feeling I can never seem to recover from.

Though it could not get any worse, The Black Dog talks. It speaks to me. I can hear it clearly. It talks to me perfectly in my language. Its voice gravelly, husky, deep, but clear enough to which I can understand and absorb every single word it says.

The Black Dog says you are not good enough, that you are worthless and of no value to anything or anyone.

The Black Dog says get over yourself, you are nothing and will forever be nothing.

The Black Dog says you are stupid, unintelligent, and uninspiring, an oaf best served to remain trying anything of note.

The Black Dog says to give up on your dreams, the chase is pointless, the sacrifices fruitless, that nothing will ever be achieved.

The Black Dog says you are a pushover, a walkover, a mere speck in the scheme of things, nothing notable for anyone.

The Black Dog says you don’t even touch nor impact any of the lives you come across, simply unremarkable.

The Black Dog says your health is hopeless, efforts a waste, to go back into your shell and never think of trying to challenge yourself.

The Black Dog says you will never be fit and healthy, you will be a sloth, a mole, an unfit pig of a man.

The Black Dog says whatever futures you’ve tried to manifest for yourself, stop thinking about them, they will never happen.

The Black Dog says you should never have been born, nor saved, a burden on all you interact with and a plague on their lives.

The Black Dog says this will never get better, it will only get worse, so accept it, and perhaps the pain will be numb.

The Black Dog says tell the world about your affliction, see if they believe you, see if they care, as it taunts me.

The Black Dog says to just give up, why waste your energy trying?

The Black Dog says a lot. It chills me, disgusts me, horrifies me…even scares me. Perhaps I cannot kill it, but perhaps I can defeat it. Perhaps I can silence it. Regardless, it’s a battle I must fight. Win or lose, my life depends upon it.