1 am

I wake up chocking 

on nothing 

air still in the room 

But none of it is reaching me 

like my body forgot 

How to be alive 

while I was asleep

My heart is violent 

pounding against bone 

like its trying to escape me 

like it knows something 

I don't 

the dark feels closer 

than it should 

pressing in 

listening

waiting 

and theres no reason 

no nightmares to blame

no sound in the house 

no danger I can name 

just this feeling 

that something is wrong 

that something is coming 

that I am not safe 

inside my own skin 

I sit there gasping 

counting breaths 

that won't slow down 

trying to convince 

a body

that does not believe me 

You're okay 

i say it over and over 

like a lie 

im hoping will turn true

because if this isnt real 

why does it feel like

im dying 

in a quiet room 

where nothing is happening

time stretches 

seconds, minutes, hours drag

like they're watching me 

fight something 

no one else can see

and eventually it loosens 

just enough to let me breath again 

but it leaves something behind 

a shadow

a warning 

a quiet knowing 

that even sleep isnt 

safe anymore