The thing with evil

was it didn’t show up

overtly and say, “I want to harm

you or worse.”

It showed up in response to

a vulnerable, traumatized part

of Self that held

a longing for protection

and safety.

It said, “I will protect you.”

This is not to say there weren’t

other forces of light

that truly offered

true healing or that good and truth

didn’t prevail in the end.

Still, it snuck in

and worked slowly and gained trust

as a protector.

It showed up in me as

anorexia, which we know

doesn’t ever end well without

extreme measures of intervention

and clearly didn’t have

my best interests in mind.

But I found it takes

many forms.