Why. Why when there are so many hurting and hating and harming. 

. . . . 

they say love yourself, you can do so much. 

and you know you can. You know it's possible. 

And yet you hurt. You breathe too hard and too fast. You strike yourself again and again in your fury.

and yet you feel this way. A snake, wrapping around your chest and your stomach. 

A vengeful cobra, one that will squeeze all the air from your lungs until you feel nothing

Black water, rising up to first your knees, then your chest, then your head. 

And no one else can see it. No one can feel it and you are alone. 

You run away, but you run in place. You grab your throat in agony, screaming silently. 

Some may see you, but they don't see the water. The cobra. The monster inside of you, 

begging you to drown

begging you to end it all and cease. 

You fight

but you fight alone 

they say I am here

but they are not

. . . . 

And then it all comes rushing back 

you see her face

his face

they tell you to stay strong

to breath. To live in them until you can live in yourself. 

To hold on just a little bit longer, until help arrives. 

You can do that.

sure, it will be hard but you've done hard. You've seen the cobra and felt the water

and breathed. 

Survived. 

Thrived. 

And You Can Do It Again.