My body is strapped in, held fast in place.

The mountainous load smacks the desk with full force

Dust disturbed from where it was resting.

I reach for the topmost paper, trembling I slide it down

holding it inches from my face, the words claw at my eyes, my cheeks are red and raw

and as I look up, I see nothing at all except the second mountain that took the paper's place.

Frantic, my muscles race against the load,

I pull and pull and pull and pull

But the more force I exert, the more force it exerts on me

A never ending cycle of the give and take.