The Intruder

By Nikita Kanjani

It appears, and intrudes and keeps me awake

one day it tells me there’ll be more air to breathe in but

the next day it leaves

as if it were never invited;

never being the intruder or

the one who

broke

my wallflower,

leaving me thinking it was just

all in my head

so I take it

I remove every trace of it,

beginning from the way I sound

or bury it but

deep down, I know it will

come back for me

and when it does, I’ll hide away from it

and you’ll begin to hear my melodies while

I continue to hear the cries of pain,

always telling me there’ll be more air to breathe in

and this time

I’ll believe it.

By Nikita Kanjani