IN and out, in and out, in and out.
My pink tinged lips push oxygen I so desperately need out of my body and then breathe it back in within a nanosecond.
Faster, faster, faster.
My brain screams at my legs to keep running as fast as I can, as far as I can.
Danger, danger, danger.
The hair on the back of my neck stands up alarmingly as heavy footsteps pound without mercy onto the ground behind me.
Jump, dodge, shove.
Branches whip across my face, grabbing my arms with their little claws. The sky rumbles and drops of rain dampen my hair and smear my make up.
Watch out! Be quick, don't fa-
The stump of the tree reaches out and catches the front of my toe, causing me to tumble ruthlessly onto the forest floor.
Ankle, pain, no more running. Must scream for help.
Blood seeps between the dried cracks of my lips as they part. My lungs inhale and I waste no time screaming as loud as I can, for whatever is chasing me is not far behind.
My voice, where is my voice?
No sound comes out of my mouth except a quiet, strangled sound.
Move, run, it's closer!
Flight or fight has now kicked in. The adrenaline pumping through my body is enough to launch myself back onto my feet and run.
Everything, slow-motion, can no longer move. Why can't I run?
My legs feel like jelly, my arms go numb. I'm stuck in a pit of quicksand and no matter how hard I try to move I can barely manage a crawl.
Cold, blinding pain, infeasible fear.
Hands grab onto my shoulders, shaking my body like a rag doll. I try to scream again, but once again no sound comes out. Smoldering eyes catch my gaze as I realize this might be my last few minutes. Lips move, forming words that I don't understand and that I can't hear.
Wake up, Wake up!
My eyes shoot open.
My room is dark. A slight breeze produced by my fan creates goosebumps along my sweaty skin. Ribs aching, cheeks pink, mind reeling. I breathe in fresh oxygen and stare blankly at the ceiling above me.
It was just a dream.
YOU ARE READING
Poems
PoetryAfter all, we are all just a big bunch of broken humans that are trying to stay alive in a world that will do anything to bring us to our knees.
