heavily breathing
turns into
holding my breath for so long
turns into
not breathing at all
realizing I’m clenching tight
my hands and my toes
tongue’s glued to the top of my mouth
lips feel wired shut
head down to avoid looking
to ignore the stares
from those who
just don’t get it
my thoughts run wild
from school to work to dinner
such trivial things
what’s gonna happen?
what will tomorrow be like?
frantic thinking now
start to think of the future
consciously aware
of the panic setting in
where will I be then?
my goals? a relationship?
will I have children?
will I ever get married?
I think about everything
now, and all at once
panicking, I just
shut down
back to the present