This is a submission for Kevinโs No Theme Thursday.

Whatโs the story behind that sinister grin?
Enough to raise the hair under your skin
Tales of torture live behind those eyes
Angelic disguise to conceal all the lies
Whatโs an innocent person supposed to do?
Masquerading in plain sight, a deadly truth
Dreadful revelations that canโt be explained
Energetic voids that will leave you drained
Beware the deception through their teeth
Amidst the faรงade they hide underneath
Trust your intuition, it wonโt lead you astray
Alarm bells ring, heed the message conveyed
Insidiously, it seeps in – a feeling deep within
Tricks before your eyes, almost like a sin
When they wonโt part, and incessantly stay
Call out their transgressions, or simply walk away
If you think of leaving, theyโll make you pay
โYouโre wrong,โ theyโll argue, to sway you their way
Manipulate to control, they accuse you once more
The final choice is yours – to walk out the door
ยฉ๏ธ Laura Bennett
Ever have a feelingโฆthat feeling, that you know someone is full of bullshit but you keep on nodding your head?
Stop doing that.
That person is draining you and your energy.
You donโt have to keep tolerating them.
Shut the door.
If that person is emotionally or mentally manipulative, is always dramatic, always has a problemโฆ
Itโs them. Not you.
Once you sense somethingโs amiss, itโs time to GTFO. It can often be right under our nose, in plain sight.
Save yourself time and reclaim your energy.
Happiest start of the new week to you all!
๐ P.S. – Not all nurses are evil. You thought this was gonna be an ode to Nurse Ratched, didnโt you? ๐

Good stuff, Laura.
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Thank you so much, Yassy! ๐ ๐ ๐
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๐ค๐
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Some nurses though… Lookout. Especially those smiling while they hold needles. ๐
I know all too well “that feeling” and I think I’ve finally learned that all-important lesson of trusting my instincts when the bulls*t alarm goes off.
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Yeah some of us arenโt the nicest all the time. Cough lol.
It takes a lifetime sometimes to hone instincts. Nothing worse too when something comes along to fuck it up! Ugh
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A lot of spot on wisdom to unpack here. Very eloquently stated, m’lady. A truly magnificent job. Thank you ๐๐
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Thank you so much, kind sir ๐ฅฐ glad you thought it was eloquentโฆhere I was wondering if it was garbled after no sleep all night ๐คฃ and thank you for a lovely image ๐ always perfection โค๏ธ
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Not at all. You expressed it quite perfectly ๐
And as always it is my absolute pleasure ๐
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Brilliant poem Laura ๐. Sad, heartfelt, and yes! Iโve certainly had โthat feelingโโฆand eventually GTFO!
Iโm glad to hear that โnot all nurses are evilโ ๐
Have a fab week, Laura โจ๐๐
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Glad you listened to your instincts and GTFO, Sara ๐ thatโs very important too. And thank you โบ๏ธ so kindly ๐ ๐ค and yes, letโs be thankful not all are evil ๐คฃ
Hope your week is starting off well!
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My pleasure, Laura! ๐
Iโm working on my next โmasterpieceโ ๐คฃ๐คฃ, itโs keeping me busy!! I hope your week is going well ๐ค๐๐ป
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Ooohh I canโt wait to see it!! ๐ โจ ๐จ
๐ getting off work here shortly, and then one more night left! ๐ฅณ yess and Iโm hoping itโs a calm one ๐๐ค
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I hope it is a calm one for you as well ๐ค. And then time for rest and ๐ฅณ๐
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Well said. It can definitely be easy to sometimes fall under the thrall of energy vampires. Thanks for the reminder to break free ๐
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I love how you said this too. Sometimes they can dazzle with all their glitz and charm, but when the real demon is revealedโฆugh.
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Can’t tell if it’s intentional or not, but I love how it’s like two poems entwined in one. Have a great week Laura! โ๐
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Thanks so much, Daniel! ๐ it was intentional, to send another message, although I think I did a better job with the โOut of the Ashesโ poem I had where I used the same sort of style. Thanks for noticing! ๐ Hope your week is going swell so far! โจ โ๏ธ
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Aa horror fan, I feel pleasantly horrified ๐๐น๐งโโ๏ธ๐ง
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Ahh yesss, excellent ๐ Iโm glad youโre a horror fan! Me too! And Iโm glad that was able to come through ๐ฏ๏ธ๐ป๐ฆโจ๐โโฌ
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Brilliant poem. Nodding my head in parts. As for the image, the nurse looks partly related to the Joker. So… I think I will give the appointment a miss. ๐
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Youโre right on the money with that one, Liz. I definitely thought she had that โJokerโ smile too from the get-go. Haha!!! ๐คฃ no appointment for anything, not with that syringe and that grin! ๐
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๐๐๐
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Stop it, Laura. You’re scaring me! ๐ซฃ๐น
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Iโm sorry!! ๐คฃ donโt you like a bit of horror? ๐ ๐โโฌ โจ
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Love it, but prefer you as lovely Catwoman. ๐คฃ
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There will be one of those later today lmao ๐คฃ and thank you!! ๐
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Sounds like you ran into a narcissist at some point there Laura, the world is probably abound with them at this point! Watch out especially for those covert ones, they are harder to spot & potentially more dangerous๐คฏ! keep calm and carry onโ. Hope you are all well Laura and life is good…Best, Jay๐
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Hey Jay! Happy to hear from you ๐ hope all is well your way โ๏ธ things are good yes, and unfortunately I encounter the ugly mental health aspects everyday at the job. ๐ซฃ *hides* lol. And yes there are quite a few that are covert, too. Definitely more of the โvictimโ with those. Itโs sad but what you said is probably right, thereโs more out there now then probably ever. Thank you again, Jay. ๐ ๐ โ๏ธ Have a great week!
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Hi Laura๐. Yes all well here thanks. Just sat down with a morning coffeeโ and looking outside at our first big snowfall of the year. I am warning the already aware then it seems, as you seem to know exactly what I mean…yes they are often the victim and will have you running around all over for them, until you become aware of the game. Hope the Sun is still shining in Florida๐! It is chilly here now. You are very welcome! You too Laura…have a great oneโ๐๐. Best, Jay
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Brilliantly written Laura .
Sadly relatable but yes,I did GTFO ๐ค
Have a great week lovely ๐นโค๏ธ๐ฅฐ
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Oh Maggie, Iโm so glad you did!! ๐ค good for you, being strong ๐ช yes it is sad itโs relatable, we all have our stories it seems. ๐นโจ hope your week is going well lovely ๐ฅฐ โค๏ธ
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I hope yours is going well too lovely โค๏ธ๐ค
Onwards and upwards Laura ๐๐ป๐๐น
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Even a harlequin must bear pain to grow and smile for us but not at the cost of their dignity.
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This just reminded me of Harley Quinn, who does happen to be one of my favorite DC characters. To true, too! โ ๏ธโฆ๏ธโฃ๏ธ๐
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I like her too, very based character.
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Great words!! I knew you would pick this pic when I saw it in Kevinโs NTT post๐คญ
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Haha!! Thank you Javi! ๐คฃ you must know me well by now with what picture I choose lolol. ๐ thank you. I hope all is going well for you this week! โจ๐
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๐ Getting in. Not completely yet (and never๐). Great 11-holiday-week that ends today, with this intuition promptโฆ๐ฅธ๐ Coincidence? Who knows! So busy but because so many plans achieved. Soon written within my blog site (just the stories I can share for public, of course ๐ค๐ค๐). Hope you are having a good start of the week too!!!
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Great stuff, Laura. Well done.
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Thank you so much, John! ๐
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๐
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Yep. Sometimes shutting the door is best. Love you, Girl.
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Youโre right, Mary โค๏ธ wisest thing we can do sometimes to preserve our sanity. ๐ Lots of love your way! ๐ฅฐ
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A bit frightened at first, yes, but your well-crafted message is solid. ๐๐ป Thank you, Laura and a lovely week to you! ๐๐ป๐๏ธ
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Thank you Michele! ๐ I do appreciate that and thank you so much for the peace vibes ๐๏ธ โ๏ธ we can always use more of those โจ๐
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You’re very welcome and great appreciation for you and your posts. ๐๐ป๐
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Def always trust your gut!
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I feel itโs the one thing Iโve betrayed too many times and have usually been right on!
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I trust nurses, but maybe an old sick guy just signed a will leaving his fortune to the wrong nurse. Anyway, you wrote fun and poetic story. Not everyone can be trusted.
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A really bad thought indeed! ๐ณ๐ญ Iโm glad you liked it and thought it was fun, Thomas. I try to make things enjoyable when I can ๐คฃ and yes! ๐ Wise words – not everyone can be trusted.
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Loved the poem, I really like the darker more sinister tones. And yes, if someone is draining your energy get as far from them as possible.
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Thank you Pooja. ๐ Iโm a fan of darkness especially when the vibe just hits right. I canโt stand energy drains, ugh ๐ฉ sometimes we donโt even realize until long down the road the person who is doing it to us. ๐
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Does darker poems there’s so much fun to write and I think this prompt with perfect for a darker poem. Call absolutely those energy draining people hurt so annoying and yes sometimes you don’t realize it until much later on๐ญ
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Itโs hard to trust anyone these days, unfortunately. People have become so manipulative. This was very well expressed and incredibly well written. ๐
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So, so unfortunately true. And thank you, John. ๐ It comes from experience, which Iโm sure weโve all sadly learned one time or another. ๐ always so appreciated
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Youโre welcome, Laura! And youโre absolutely right about that.
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Great post, Laura! Like the poem-within-poem ๐ I saw this one, but since Kevin usually makes his female characters quite alluring, the empty ward and her come-hither look had me going off in a different direction. Def not Nurse Ratched ๐
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Haha! ๐คฃ itโs funny you mention that Darryl. I definitely thought about going โsexy nurseโ with it, but that syringe ๐ sent me the other way ๐ and yes Kevin does have quite a talent! Iโm glad you liked the post ๐ so appreciated ๐
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Wonderful Poem
Itโs so true, sometimes we stay in situations or tolerate people who drain us, even when our instincts are screaming at us to step away. Trusting your gut and protecting your peace is essential. Your words are a powerful reminder that we donโt have to tolerate toxicity, no matter how cleverly disguised it may be.
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Thank you so much, Willie. ๐ Your comment is so true. With family, friends, employers, any type of relationship, itโs hard to break away from them sometimes if thereโs some kind of attachment or you feel bad. But itโs necessary for our sanity and even health. Protecting peace is definitely of utmost importance โ๏ธ ๐๏ธ thank you again, really so appreciated ๐
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Sinister smile indeed, and with a syringe, lethal. Relationships that donโt lift you up should be kicked to the curb. A Fukitol vaccine will cure any lingering guilt about cutting loose. ๐
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Edward, thereโs a pharmaceutical marketing strategy somewhere in your future! ๐คฃ A caffeine-infused IV bag, a Fukitol vaccine, sounds like a plan to me!! ๐
On a less goofy note, those are very true words. If they seek to only compete or make you feel bad, argue, or constantly questionโฆnot worth it!
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Thank you for your vote of confidence! We should create a partnership. The good thing about the Fukitol vaccine is that we donโt need a vaccine card. The whole world would know we were vaccinated. ๐ Yes, ๐๐ผ to your less goofy note. Well done, Laura.
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Haha!! ๐คฃ youโre so right Edward. Thank you. ๐ and yes, the whole world will know and will be lining up so they can no longer give anyโฆwell, you know ๐ ๐ thank you, start writing your acceptance speech for the inevitable conference the masses will want to have on how peace was accomplished and cured by caffeine and Fukitol! ๐ ๐ โ๏ธ ๐
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๐คฃThat reminded me, for some fricking reason, of Miss Congeniality when Sandra Bullock said, โAndโฆ world peace.โ โ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ
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Omg, I totally forgot about that movie!! ๐ now I want to rewatch it! But yesโฆ.kinda like that!! LOL ๐ no peace without caffeine! โ๏ธ โ๏ธ
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She was great in that movie. I might need to rewatch it too.
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You’re telling me it’s about nurses? Shouldn’t it be any and everyone?
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Oh. No itโs not just about nurses. Iโm a nurse so itโs just a joke in general about โevil nursesโ which is something Iโve ranted on about for my job in jest. ๐ Itโs definitely for everyone and any outer โmaskโ they display as kind, loving, innocent, but somehow you know that not to be the case. ๐
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I have a sister in law who was a nurse and she’s such a gem โบ๏ธ. There are a few odd ones as happens everywhere else.
Oh gosh, I’m surrounded by those types of people it is exhausting. One has to have thick skin or choose not to be offended, ๐๐๐ is my mantra ๐คฃ.
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YES, I thought for sure it was going to be a Nurse Ratchet post. hahah
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*Rached , lol don’t kill me.
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No, no, never!! Hahaha, now whereโs my evil grin at and the syringe?! ๐ Lolol ๐ kidding!! โค๏ธ
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She could be a bit ratchet too ๐ ๐คฃ donโt worry I always make that mistake!! Bahah ๐
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Nurses are not evil๐๐
Nice poem Laura!โฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธ
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Sometimes you can shut the door. Sometimes you are the door.
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Slam the door and double lock itโฆthrow away the keys for the love of God. My friend is dating the most toxic person ever and she keeps saying she wants to see where it goesโฆ
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Donโt you always hate when you can see the ending and youโre just waiting for it to play out? Godโฆโsee where it goesโ lordโฆit ainโt goin anywhere good! Hope she wisens up soon enoughโฆWhew ๐
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Itโs going into the landfill for sureโฆhope she figures it out tooโฆ
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Fingers crossed!! ๐ค
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So well said, Laura. We shouldn’t ignore that gut feeling. This reminded me a lot of my ex-husband. He was a master of manipulation. I’m so glad I found the strength to break away.
Haha, loved that P.S. The first time I saw this image, I thought you were going to come up with an ode to Nurse Ratched
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Energy vampires! Great message and well said! I’ve definitely had to learn to set boundaries for my own healthy and well-being.
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OMG soooo good and true !!!!! Only you ๐ !!!! This was a dentist I visited recently, and she scared me out of that chair so fast (lol) !!! Brilliant work, Loveee
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I’ll remember this and of course not all nurses are evil. ๐
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[…] Night Approach [NTT x Poem] A Winter Orchid All and nothing Visions of Grandeur Sinister Smiles She’s So […]
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Yayyy ๐
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Great post!
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