I can see and communicate with demons. Last night, one Trojan horse'd me.

My mom has worked for Child Protective Services my entire life. She would send me on “home visits” where she would have me hold the hand of the child we were there to take into protective custody, and explain to them in a soothing voice what was happening and why they needed to go straight home with the foster family waiting in the car. <br><br>She told me how to convince them it wasn’t their fault, that they were safe, that CPS was there to help, that they would never see their bad parents again, and most importantly, to not fight it. <br><br>She told me all of this when I was little, with the assumption that I would take over the family business once I grew up. I think it was just an excuse for her to abuse me and beat me when she was angry or stressed, which was often. Maybe she thought I was good at it? Or maybe she just enjoyed watching me squirm while my arm was held in a vice grip, and painful goosebumps formed all along my arms as I repeated the lines over and over for my mom. <br><br>But I never got to do the home visits. As a child myself, I was taken into child protective custody when I was six, and I never saw my mom again. I didn’t remember much of the two families I lived with before I aged out, but I did remember them being better than my mom. <br><br>A few months later, a social worker named Ms. Jenkins came to the halfway house I was living in. She told me she had been looking for me everywhere and was so relieved she found me. She explained to me that I had to come with her, and I was to never speak with anyone about what she told me. <br><br>She explained to me that I had a gift. I could see demons, and I could communicate with them. <br><br>“And what exactly have I done, Ms. Jenkins? Why do so many people keep telling me I have to go with them?”<br><br>Ms. Jenkins smiled. <br><br>“Sweetie, a lot of people want your help. The world can be a very dark place, and there are many who seek to use you for your gift.” She paused. “But I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to go with any of them.” <br><br>I furrowed my eyebrows, unsure of what was going on. “Why can’t I stay where I am?”<br><br>Ms. Jenkins leaned in close. “The people at that halfway house are not people. They’re demons. <br><br>“And they killed your mom. <br><br>“But you’re not like them, and I need your help to rid the world of them.” <br><br>I was skeptical, but Ms. Jenkins told me to call out to the demons, and see for myself. I didn’t know what she was talking about, so I did what I always did when I was overwhelmed. <br><br>“Mom?”<br><br>Ms. Jenkins’ face wrinkled in pain for a split second, “no honey, she’s not your mom. Your real mom is dead.” <br><br>“Mom?” I repeated. <br><br>A figure appeared in front of me. The woman from my memories, the woman who tortured me. My mother. <br><br>“Are you ready to take over the family business, Sweetie? You’ve been ready for a long time.” <br><br>I gasped. I knew it was my mom. I knew it was wrong. But something was off. <br><br>“Mom?” <br><br>“yes honey? Why did you call for me?” <br><br>I launched myself at my mother, and wrapped my arms around her. <br><br>“I missed you so much mom.” <br><br>I felt a hand slap across my face, and my ears popped as I was dislodged from my mother. <br><br>“Do not call me your mom, you abomination.” <br><br>I looked up, and saw Ms. Jenkins. “Why did you call her? She’s not your mom. She’s a demon.” <br><br>I shook my head. She looked and sounded nothing like Ms. Jenkins. But then again, so did my mom. <br><br>I looked up, and saw my real mom standing in front of me. <br><br>“yes honey? Why did you call for me?” <br><br>I shook my head, and looked at Ms. Jenkins. She shook her head. <br><br>“Do… do you see my mom? She’s right in front of me.”<br><br>Ms. Jenkins shook her head again. “No. You are alone. There is no one here but me.” <br><br>The voice came from beside me. I looked over and saw my mom, right next to me. <br><br>“yes honey? Why did you call for me?” <br><br>I smiled. I was finally home. <br><br>“I’m ready to take over the family business mom, just like you taught me.” <br><br>This is for the people who want my help. I am not a gift. I am a monster. <br><br>And I have work to do.