6:57pm

The tap goes drip, drip, drip

like the blood from my wrists

staining the white tiled bathroom floor.

The clock goes tick, tick, tick

like the faint thudding of my heartbeat,

as I lay in shock at the sight

of what my pain caused me to do.

I lean my head against the cold wall

and I’m thinking

how it’s better to feel pain

than nothing at all.

I hear the door go knock, knock, knock

and worried voices,

rising in panic

when I didn’t respond.

A loud thud.

A bang.

I can feel myself being lifted up

into strong arms,

and I know I’m safe.

Loud cries and flashing lights -

I can feel a needle prick into my flesh

and wince, as someone tries

to clear the wounds.

Another jab into my left arm

and I slowly fall into a numb, dreamless sleep

as a pair of hands

lovingly wipes the tears

off my pale cheeks.