"Breathing On Demand..."

Some more thoughts

"Breathing On Demand..."

When you're just near
- I listen to my heart beat stuttering

and feel  every breath in lungs too tight .

...And then you paused - spoke...

"My hands got so chill, clammy.
and I froze
rooted
dumb - its like I almost know what to say
and then
and then - damn
... you looked
at me
into me
and I couldn't turn
or move
and I can't
can't think
can't move
can't speak...
I'm so frozen, afraid -
afraid you'll notice
me - and how I'm not -
not much of anything really...
nothing at all special or worth your notice

or touch
or smile...
and if you did
DID
notice me
I'ld die...
I'ld -I'ld just be in heaven
I wouldn't know how to stop smiling
to NOT smile
to NOT FLOAT
- into tomorrow -
to not breathe ever again
without feeling the press of your hand in mine
your fingertips brushing my cheek
without dreaming of your lips
and the presence of YOU
in my life.

Please... please stay?
Please..."

"Uh, uh... its just around the corner -
and to the right."

Chris

Author's Note

feel free

Reviews

[Emily B]

some days, my chest just won't yield to the impulse to breathe . . . but then you smile and I remember how it works