I found this in my son’s room while

At first, I thought I’d found something alive.

My heart pounded as I stared at that pale, curved shape with the dark tip, lying motionless on the dusty floor.

Every second made it look worse. A parasite? A dead thing?

Something rotting under my own bed? My son didn’t recognize it either.

I hovered over it for far too long, caught between disgust and fear.continue reading …