a nightmare wrapped in a soft blanket

it didn’t come with sharp teeth,
only lullabies and longing.
the red flags were there
but no one taught me
how to read the warning signs
when they wore perfume
and said they loved me.

he called me the red flag
for not fawning,
for daring to say
“it’s none of my business”
before i ever knew
how quickly he’d turn
peace into punishment.

and i?
i went into panic,
apologized like it was my fault
for making a toddler rage
in a grown man’s mouth.

i wrapped myself tighter
in his tantrums.
called it love
until one day,
i woke up shivering..

and realized
it was never warmth.
only fog,
only fear,
only a nightmare
wrapped in a soft blanket.