Guaranteed Results

Feel the tightness in your chest

Immediately - and I mean NOW -

Find something to clean.

Scrub. Dry. Smooth. Straighten.

Don’t think about your chest.

Feel your throat constrict

Shake your head to banish the thought

That crept up from your chest

To your throat.

Bury yourself in paperwork

Because your body is sore after cleaning,

But your brain is still buzzing.

Respond to that work email.

Pay your bills.

Attack the keys on your computer

See if you can push your pencil through the paper

Into the desk.

Don’t think about your chest.

Don’t think about your throat.

Feel heat rising in your cheeks.

Absolutely not!

Make a noise of sheer frustration.

Not pain, or release, but anger

At your body for its betrayal.

Don’t think about your chest.

Don’t think about your throat.

Don’t think about your cheeks.

Feel the sting of tears behind your eyes.

Frantically look around.

Make sure nobody is watching.

Abort abort abort.

Sunglasses on. Breaths forced to be even.

Walk, don’t run, to your car. Nobody suspects.

Shut the car door.

Take a breath that comes out ragged.

Release the tears that were born in your chest until your cheeks are blotchy

And your eyes red.

Feel it all now

Because you have to.