At the first sign
that someone has
or is about to
walk away from me,
the inner critic
lights the matches
to set everything on fire,
collects all the evidence
for one more trial
in a kangaroo court,
screams with a fury
that this is the only truth,
beats my inner child
with self-righteous fists,
closes off all doors
lest Reason get in,
starts keeping score
again,
creates a self-made hell,
a mental labyrinth
for my thoughts to run in
endlessly
circling each other
in painful ruminations,
puts up barriers and shields
to keep out
everything I need most.