Addiction.

She creeps slowly,
A sharp grin plastered across her face.
Her arms spread wide,
A mock gesture of warmth.
But clawed fingers line
The halo of false affection,
Waiting to pull you in.
When her claws catch a hold of you
It's hard to escape her embrace.
You struggle and thrash,
Or sit quiet and forlorn.
Some escape faster than others
And encourage the ones who haven't.
But it's hard.
Hard to break free.
Her hold is so strong
And her claws snag.
Some are lost in her arms,
Disappearing into nothing.
Some never get caught.
But no one forgets.
No one forgets her malicious
Yet comforting
Smile.
No one forgets how her ragged breathing felt,
Or how the cries of those caught sounded.
Some day she will be slain.
Hopefully.
But until then,
I will fight.