Shadows

'Breathe' they say;

The dark alleyways in my brain 

converge

Trap me

In shadows of uncertainty 

and unreasonable fear 

'Breathe' they say;

I smell the fuel of my heart burn

As it ardently pumps

Through every vessel 

To keep the physical being intact ;

I feel every beat 

I hear every movement,

Every strain in my muscles-

I am racing in a slow motion movie

I am pacing on quicksand.

'Breathe' they say; 

The throbbing of my forehead gets intense

The light ahead flickers;

Destiny is fantasy

Determination is wavering

The goals are all scattered 

The dreams demolished.

'Breathe' they say;

I hold my chest 

Trying to live through every inhalation 

Trying not to slip into slumber

Forever-

How silent,

How peaceful -

To sleep

To become infinite 

Among the colosseum of stars.

'Breathe' they say;

The pallor of my feet deepens,

My cold clammy hands twitch

I shiver

I tremor- 

For what I held dear 

Is taken 

Is gone,

Reality storms away

The hope 

I had managed to hold on. 

'Breathe' they say;

As the cold dark hands 

Of aspirations

Throttle my ambitions. 

I have to hustle 

Free from expectations 

To dream again 

To smile

Freely 

'Breathe' they say,

"Take deep breaths 

Focus on an object 

Calm yourself down" -

The unsure voices yell; 

The blur in my vision 

Clears a little- 

I've lived too long 

Longing for the light 

I've lived too long 

Blaming the night. 

I stand up, 

Lips quivering 

Throat dried up,

It can't end 

It can't end

Not so soon 

Not like this 

I have a few more breaths to take.