Summoning by Valerie Parente

They told me to face my demons
but my demons have the same face as me
so I looked myself in the mirror
and said “you don’t scare me” on repeat.

Funny how I possess these demons within myself
yet they come out to possess me
getting sick was a summoning by accident
deciding to heal was a summoning purposefully.

Like a ritual, the darkness resurfaces
but you’ll realize, through this hell
that you are also your own guardian angel
because only you can save yourself.

– Valerie Parente (8-18-2025)