Anxiety gripped her,

Its boney fingers long.

She tried to resist its grip.

But it grew tighter

And tighter

With each futile shake.

She tried reasoning.

Her act unconvincing,

The fingers gripped tighter.

She tried prying it away,

One frigid finger at a time.

As soon as one finger was released,

The next would grip tighter.

She could not win,

She realised,

And so,

Heart pumping,

Head pounding,

She succumbed

To anxiety’s familiar hold.

It bubbles up,

Threatening to overthrow;

Panic like a stranglehold

Round her neck,

Clawing at her ribs,

Darting from her eyes,

Present in her jagged breaths,