text: Every night is dull, but this night is particularly bleak for Teo. Valentine’s Day. A day for lovers, a day for friends, a day on which he has neither. He sits alone in his quiet apartment, the pipes rattling as somewhere, someone takes a shower before going on a date. Teo imagines it; there would be candles, roses, smiles, and warm hearts. There would be a joy he hasn’t known for years, and a connection that aches to his soul. It is 7pm and Teo finishes a measly dinner which has gone cold as he laments his isolation. Lying in bed, he fantasises about the warm touch of another man, strong hands gripping his waist, soft lips brushing his face. He blushes in the dark at such a ridiculous thought, skin tingling and a heat between his legs. He rolls over to face the mirror reflecting the bed frame and the darkness that lies below it; the monster who resides there shifts slightly, uncomfortable at being perceived. Teo laughs to himself, a ridiculous idea forming in his head. “Monster under the bed,” he murmurs, “will you... be my valentine?”. The darkness shifts again, nervously. Silence. It was a silly idea anyway, Teo thinks. He rolls onto his back and sighs. A faint sound reaches his ears. “Really?” the darkness whispers. Now he sits up, Teo was not expecting a response. “Well... yes, I guess”, fumbling for words, “we could... have dinner?”. Teo feels a rush of excitement, a strange excitement, but excitement nonetheless. Teo sets the table, this time for two. He has only two chairs but that will be enough. He wonders if the monster likes wine. He may as well pour two glasses. Then Teo gathers the odd socks from atop the dryer and arranges them on a plate as delicately as he can muster. He rips out a few pages of his dream diary and sets them aside the plate. Will the darkness need a knife and fork? Teo is unsure so lays cutlery for the monster anyway. He only has one candle, but it will do. “Dinner is ready,” Teo says, speaking as confidently as he can, “please, have a seat”. Ever so slowly, the monster seeps out from beneath the bed, across the floor, and glides into the chair. Teo cannot see a face on the monster, just a swirling mass of darkness, but also, something else. There is an electric energy in the room. Teo and the darkness sit across from one another, alone together in the small apartment. Teo makes a toast to Valentine’s Day and they both sip the rich red wine from cheap plastic glasses. With full bellies of socks and steak alike, the two wobble with wine-laced steps to the bedroom. “Thank you,” whispers the darkness, “no one has ever asked me to dinner before”. The monster’s lonely existence has been brightened, if only for a night. “Thank you for being my Valentine,” Teo smiles, “I had a really nice time”. The darkness slides back under the bed, vibrating with an energy it has never felt. Happiness? Similarly, Teo climbs into his sheets, feeling full and relaxed. Another idea. “Would you like to sleep up here tonight?”, emboldened by the wine, “there’s quite enough room”. Hesitant at first, the darkness isn’t forthcoming. It can sense that Teo’s question is genuine, though, and slowly climbs up onto the bed and tucks beneath the sheets. Together they lie like teenagers at a sleep over, talking much about nothing and enjoying every moment. There is a warmth surrounding Teo and the darkness and they both feel at peace. “Goodnight”, says Teo. “Sleep tight”, whispers the darkness.