escapril day 21: hands, wrists, teeth
Your brain speaks without thoughts if you listen.
Humming in clenched teeth tension, creaking
like an old door or chattering (but I’m not cold),
and seeping through sweaty palms, over-cracked
knuckles, and fingers curling, uncurling, curling,
uncurling (I don’t know what to do with my hands)
as they hide in sleeves to muffle the sound of your
wrist pulse trying to beat hard enough to tell you
to feel your heart palpitating faster faster faster fas-
Stop. Breathe. Listen to me. Catch me before I fall.
Lauren Kathleen 