Shadows

I feel the hot breath of depression
Creeping ever closer on my heels.
I feel dark shadow arms encircling.
My quivering heart in terror reels.

Swallowing everything that I am,
His foul stench overrides fear and strife,
And I surrender what’s left of me,
Stopping his advance, ending my life.

Seeing a glimmer of distant hope,
Heart beating faster, as on I race,
Reaching for that last glimmer I see,
But shadow fingers close on my face.

Will I ever see the sun again,
Or feel the warmth of love as it grows?
Will I ever be content with life,
Or will emptiness be all that shows?