It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen

My old friend

Their face: familiar, sunken

It’s been a while since I’ve felt that weight on my chest

Just heavy enough to make it hard to breathe, but light enough so that I can

I can’t remember the last time I felt this flush of warmth across my skin

I almost missed how I slow down, like I’ve got chains on my feet

Unable to move my body

Unable to recognize the passage of time

Unable to eat

Unable to even speak

Cotton stuffed in my mouth

Squeaking against my teeth

I could cry

The tears won’t come

But they almost do