Neuroticism
a hole in the heart,
a gap in the soul.
the ever-widening
rift of fear,
isolation,
and paranoia,
cracking the mind.
all oozing out,
mixed together
in a drunken,
poisonous stupor.
shallow tears
leave stains on
faded pillowcases.
out of nowhere
floods depression,
that old monster.
a scream,
a sob,
blood and tears
becoming one.
no reason to be
sad,
it’s just the
monster.
lurking in corners
Of the brain, planting
ticking time bombs
that will explode
any second now.
they go off,
bursting into tears,
screaming,
shattered silences.
the monster’s friend,
paranoia, approaches.
they hate you,
you screwed up,
if you dare speak,
they will not listen.
they do not want you here,
you are a burden.
landmines now,
one misplaced step and
they explode,
burst into tears,
screaming,
shattered silences,
fear,
loathing,
distress signals.
two more now,
twins, named
doubt and regret.
if only you had.
if only you hadn’t.
you shouldn’t have.
you should have.
turn time back.
fix what went wrong.
make it all right,
so none of this
ever has to happen.
the twins send off
missiles,
recklessly,
poisoning you, and
they explode,
burst into tears,
screaming,
shattered silences,
fear,
loathing,
distress signals,
missed chances,
rotting memories,
entrapment.
the last one,
death.
crawling slowly,
but surely coming.
grabbing onto
all that is good,
corrupting it,
to ash.
drive off the road,
jump off the bridge,
take the medication,
hang the rope.
no explosives here.
sending out poisons
in their purest,
yet still filthy,
forms.
tears,
screaming,
shattered silences,
fear,
loathing,
distress signals,
missed chances,
rotting memories,
entrapment,
suicide.
freedom.