the [this] plague is ok

i lay my body across the bed
reading the work of a man whom i do not know
i read a sentence
a sentence and a half
and see something
it's nothing
although i must do a double take
along my arm
a black ball rises
tempting me
but it is gone

i look, i examine
my arm is not harmed
it is normal
typical
it is ok

i read more
i try to understand
what is this creation
what is occurring
this thing, this feeling
something is flowing within me
somethings wants out
something terrifying

i look at my arm yet again
it is there this time
not out of the corner of my eye
no double takes
it is there in the flesh
it is there in my flesh

it's forcing it's way out
it's taking control
but i like it
i want it to take over
the blackness covers me
not a little black bubble anymore
more like the plague
overwhelming my body
my arm is completely dark
the soot colored substance reaching it's peak level along my skin

i place the booklet across my arm
ever fascinated by my churning colors
yet too disturbed by the writing to put that away
or is it the other way around
am i fascinated by the writing of this being
and disturbed by my needed appendage
either way i must focus on both

my head starts to ache
not hurt as if a migraine
but ache as if someone trying it's way out
it twitches
my head
as i rub my hand at it

now my arm feels it
it feels the ache
the ache is spreading with touch
and the booklet fuses into my limb
it's melts into me
the letters , the words, imprinting along my arm

my arm completely dark now
black as the soul
with the shimmering silver words gleaming outwards

i continue to read on

the skin ruptures
but i do not bleed
bleeding does not exist here
it is not allowed anymore
but the skin peels back anyways
the bone protruding
i do not feel it's pain either
but the bone climbs out
it's many legs pushing it up
the crevice turning to nothing
as the creature leaves it's soft shell behind

i am not reading anymore
i do not need to read anymore
at least, not the words that i was trying to take in
we must always read
but not this, not this
this is infused within me
i know it, i love it

the ache from my arm disappears
but it is not gone forever
just as the plague that invades my head
is not gone forever
it will be back soon
the creature will be back soon
but it will take the form of another
as my right arm is severed
laying on the bed next to me
next to the booklet that i was reading
next to my pillows, my sheets, my blankets

my right hand twitches
i reach up to itch my forehead
i reach for my glass of water
i reach for my book
once a being, left all on it's own
the right arm, my right arm, is not alone
it's still with me
it's never alone
it never leaves me
the bones only ache at times
the skin comes off
the creatures attack my thoughts
and my thoughts in turn attack you

but for now
it is all ok