I can’t breathe. 

It’s choking me -- suffocating me. 

But I just let it. 

All the air sucked from my lungs. 

But I endure. 

I can see you are suffering the same pain, 

But you are so far away.

I can’t reach you. 

I can’t touch you. 

I can’t because she forbids it.

We touch, we die.

We breathe, we die.

We live, we die. 

So we follow her rules. 

We do as we’re told. 

You stand so far away.

I struggle to breathe.

You do the same.

I can’t touch you.

I can’t reach you.