Burn Out

The siren fades, the ringing in the ear, the hyper vigilance, that held it dear. The constant posture, shoulders braced up high, against the unseen threat beneath the sky. The mind that mapped each exit, planned each flight, gas worn the spirit down over so many nights. This ending isn't sudden, it's way long overdue, it's the slow, relinquishing of a grip, the inevitable letting go.

Old skin sheds, this armor made of fear, woven from old wounds collected over years. The practiced smiles that hid all of the shame, the quiet calculation needed to sustain. The hunger to anticipate the next blow, the desperate need to always be in the know. SELF built a fortress in the sand, it's broken and weary now and can no longer withstand any further blows.

A quiet choice to lay the burden down, to trade bloody battlefield, for a sparkling crown. A peaceful air, a breath that isn't tight, finally stepping out, into the darkest night. The narrative of scarcity takes a pause, ignoring all the old survival laws. The engine running on a frantic nee, now starves itself and plants a softer seed.

Now the tired structure meets its fate, the walls of "always ready, never late" for panic, crumble, yielding to the shift, a final burning, purifying gift. The history of holding on too hard, is losing its grip. The self correction long over due, is gathered up and set a blaze, the fire all consuming, what a glorious flame.

It's nit solely destruction, but a brilliant form of grace, no survivor mode is visible, nor can it leave a trace. The memory of constant tension turns scarlet heat- it cracked, flares, and burns, until the vigil, fierce and cold, is rendered down to just stories told.

The last of all fear exhales a puff of flame, leaving behind this girl with a newly spoken name. The frantic structure turns to golden dust - a clean slate born of incandescent trust., and settles embers soft, upon the ground,, where there is only healing to be found.