Free

By Vanshi Desai

A streetlight flickers outside my window.

Muffled dog barks are heard.

A car honks in the distance.

Thunderous raindrops drench the sidewalks.

A clock ticks above me.

I sit here in a cold, dark corner

In a house, I'm not sure I could call my home.

Invisible hands wrap around my throat,

Heartbeat ringing through my ears,

Tightness in my chest,

Hands shaking

As my cries reverberate around the room,  

Suffocated as I try to navigate through the labyrinth of my mind.

There's not enough oxygen on this earth,

I'm left gasping for breath.

Closing my eyes, I imagine being free.

The honking of the car ceases,

The rain dwindles,

The barking fades away,

The clock stops ticking,

And the flickering light finally goes out.

By Vanshi Desai