Darkness

l am alone in a room of 20 people
the sounds of sleeping hang low in the air
 Outside the wind has taken on an eery sound
 in the distance the sound of gunfire,
low rumbles sharp reports, flashes light up the sky
l slide further under my blankets and wait for sleep.
Each minute lasts an hour, Each hour a lifetime
Someone cries out in thier sleep three cots down.
 l look over and see the grimace of relived nightmares
 an animal cries out,at least the sound is animalistic
 the ground shakes and vibrations cover the floor
 the lights go on and we are hauled from our beds
 sleep wrenched from our bodies hearts beat faster,
 palms sweat the mad scramble into our clothes begins
 and with a slam of the door the room empties
and we step out into the darkness