One, Two, Three.

One, two, three.
One, two, three.
One, two, three.

Count in your head.
Quietly.
So no one notices.

You must stay composed.
You cannot let them see.

One, two, three.

Notice everything,
but react to nothing.
The room.
The light.
The sound of your own breathing
moving in and out like a task that must be completed.

Focus on the numbers.

One.
Two.
Three.

Tell yourself you’re okay.
Even if you don’t believe it.
Say it anyway.

You are okay.
This is okay.

Play the same song on repeat.
Not because you love it,
but because it doesn’t surprise you.
Learn every lyric.
Memorize the melody
so nothing can catch you off guard.

Breathe in time with it.
Let the rhythm replace your thoughts.

One, two, three.

Focus on the task at hand.
Whatever is directly in front of you.
A dish.
A screen.
A sentence you’ve already read before.

Stay neutral.
No emotions.
Neutral is safest.

One, two, three.

Rewatch the same show
for the thousandth time.
Choose something familiar.
No twists.
No sudden changes.
Only comfort disguised as repetition.

You already know the lines.
The costumes.
How it ends.

Watch people with lives
unrelated to yours.
Let their problems stay theirs.

Do not focus on the memories.
Do not follow them when they surface.
Gently redirect.
Like training a restless animal.

One, two, three.

If you listen closely,
the counting might slow your heart.
The noise might soften.
You might even sleep.

And if you wake up still counting,
start again.

One, two, three.
One, two, three.
One, two, three.

☾⋆｡°✩🦇✩°｡⋆☽