Lost

The
blue-white
flames move in
rhythmic patterns
before my eyes, and
I am frozen.

Breath
and time
stop.

Seconds take
an eternity to pass
or maybe
an eternity passes
in seconds
but I'm lost in
the heartbeat
in-between.

My world slowly
collapses around me,
twisting itself inside-out
as the flames become
a blaze growing

c l o s e r
and
c l o s e r.

Cheeks wet from
childhood memories
feel flushed and warm
as broken thoughts slowly
unravel and spill
wordlessly onto
the ground.

They threaten to send
every ounce of strength
I have up in smoke,
and I'm caught
spellbound
as the
fiery echoes
of years sculpted
by abuse scorch the
little resolve I have left,
and wave upon wave of
fear promises to drown
my future before it
even has the
chance to
begin.