Breathe

I take a breath. Silence bubbles up to ears and muffles The sound surrounding me. My Hands curling, my fingers dig into my palm With the viciousness only found in survival. I take a breath. Before me lies the enemy, as I hover Beaten and bloody with my stomach Sunk down to my toes and curling, Threatening to evict what actually belongs. I take a breath. Somehow I'm breathing yet there is No air in my lungs. I try again and Again, speeding up as my lungs feel tighter, Restricting and crushing the breath from inside. I take a breath. Someone stands before me now, Struggling to communicate to me through The cotton deep in my ears and my tongue, Choking me, blocking any words inside. I take a breath. Shuttled back with warm hands Escaping for cold looks and My tongue gets buried deep in my chest, Crashing as my stomach falls down to my feet. I take a breath. Days pass and suddenly Before me lies the enemy. As I hover, The word begins to shake around me. Or no, that’s just my hands. I take a breath. The air in my lungs does its best to Escape, and for a second I’m dying, But no. I’m just breathing too quickly. I take a breath. Slowing down, I clear My throat and think, think, think. Cruel looks are thrown- But no! Not cruel, concerned looks are given. I take a breath, Close my eyes and when I open them My enemies are gone, replaced With my assertion that everything will be Okay. I take a breath, Shoot those before me a smile, Click the button to begin my Presentation and, finally, Force my muscles to relax. I take a breath, Not out of fear, or some Evolving notion that The end is nigh, But rather, because I must. I take a breath, And it’s not as bad as I previously led myself to believe. It’s not really that bad at all. Truly, it’s actually a bit good. I continue taking breaths. I breathe, and breathe, and breathe.