The ceiling rises above me
Towering high above my head
I can feel the emptiness
Right at the base of my neck

I crane my neck slowly upwards
To get a look at the space
How far it is away
The miles between us

Altocelarophobia
That word, that devilish word

I gaze at it for a moment
Just long enough to let out my breath
I jerk my head down
And gasp at what I saw

My legs are shaking
And my knuckles are white
From gripping to the sides
Of the carefully carved bench

Altocelarophobia
That word, That devilish word

I know I look crazy
But is this something one can help?
All around me people are gawking
At the scenes depicted on the walls

I try to gawk at them to
But ceiling is far too high

Altocelarophobia
That word, That devilish word

When people say I’m faking
Being terrified of the high ceiling
Even my closest friends speak those words to me
Attention hog, liar

I stare at them with disbelief
Why would they say this?

You think I would want to have this?
This uncontrollable fear
That makes my knees shake
and brings tears to my eyes?

Altocelarophobia
That word, That devilish word

I close my eyes and picture myself
Soaring upwards and crashing into the ceiling
My neck is broken
I am no longer here

I’m on the ceiling, dead
I open my eyes with a start
I’m not dead
I tell myself

Gravity will hold me
But is that really true?

Altocelarophobia
That word, That devilish word