The Crescendo From My Mind

Eyes open to black.

An unseen threat lingers, presses on your chest. Quickly, your heart responds. Thump. Thump. Thump.

With each beat it rises, higher and higher, up to your throat. The beat builds and builds, taking your piece of mind with it. Thump, thump. Thump, thump.

Your hands curl to fists, your body trembles, you shift in the sheets under your bed and plead with your mind. 

Stop, you beg it. 

Nothing is wrong, you remind yourself.

Why are you like this?

Your stomach twists onto itself as your body starts to tremble.

Soft tunes, frantic pacing, fast acting medication. Any relief from the raising crescendo in your body is welcomed.

Breathe in.

Thump, thump.

Breathe out.

Thump.

In, out. In, and out. In… then out.

Hours have been lost by the time peace settles over your frame, by the time your heart drops back to its rightful place.

Light lingers outside the curtains as you press your eyes closed. Sleep, quick, before it returns.

Sleep, you have responsibilities to tend to in the morning.

Sleep.