Reassurance

when in the corner of a dark room
one sees the shadow of a demon
in the form of a blank cardboard cutout
of a tall and threatening human

when one then walks toward the demon
with shallow breaths while clutching a weapon
only to learn that the demon is a childhood cartoon
whose face was turned away so it could not be readily seen

when this happens because one has plunged a knife
into the cardboard cutout to seemingly slay the demon
only to discover its true identity as it collapsed in shreds
and as everyone who saw you stalk it breaks into laughter

when this happens
when your mistake is revealed
when what you’ve killed
renders you a buffoon before others

remember
that it does not mean
that the demon
does not in fact exist

somewhere
where you
cannot
see it