This morning, I stepped out onto my porch to enjoy a cup of coffee and discovered this on the ground.

It wasn’t supposed to be there. I froze on the porch, coffee trembling in my hand, staring at something that looked like it belonged in a nightmare. My chest tightened as panic took over.

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. Every instinct told me to run, yet I stayed, locked in place, staring at the twisted, fleshy shape near my door.continue reading …