Dissociation

When my stomach turns or stress is strangling me or panic assaults

me like they did, my heart audibly pounds. No, I’m not looking

at you, don't be embarrassed, I’m staring into my own soul.

When I am distressed, which is often, when I cannot sleep, when I hear

something too true or too false, when I can’t be present in my pain

or in my joy… You, and me, and the world: it’s all sometimes a bit too much

the door shuts

middle distance

my mind combusts

middle distance

you kiss my shoulder

middle distance

you slide in closer

middle distance

Life happens with the brightness and volume turned all the way up