breathe
that's what they tell you
breathe
wake up and
breathe 
get dressed and
breathe
brush your teeth and
breathe
put that mask on and
breathe
pretend you want to be out of bed and
breathe
force yourself to smile and go out and 
breathe
hang around the people you call friends but feel like you barely know and 
breathe
go to places and to people who cause you more stress than anything else and
breathe
wander around and hold back the dozens of demons wanting to expel themselves from your stomach and 
breathe
close your eyes and shake off that mental breakdown pushing so much to happen and
breathe
open your eyes and continue on with your day and
breathe
realize that you forgot things that were expected of you due to other commitments and 
breathe
clutch your head in your hands and dig your face so far into your arms to feel somewhat hidden as the tears escape your eyes and 
breathe
open your mouth and bite down on your arm to keep from sobbing in public because fuck this can't keep happening and 
breathe
yet, this is the time where you realize that you can't listen to what they've been saying and you've tried to just 
breathe 
but that doesn't work anymore, now does it?
breathe
such a simple word
a simple command
a simple concept.
who knew this was one thing you couldn't do anymore?
breathe
breath
breat
brea
bre
br
b
br
bre
brea
break
breakd
breakdo
breakdow
b r e a k d o w n.