I Silence Myself

I cannot speak
As I open my mouth a creature strangles my tongue forbidding words to come
Nobody quiets me
I silence myself
My cheeks stiffen and the creature holds on tightly
I cannot speak simply because I cannot respond
to the response of my initial words
Fear grasps a hold of me
Uncontrollable thumb fiddling rapidly turns into a mind fiddling madness
Thinking about lifeless objects
like chewed gum, toothpaste or an empty milk carton
Anything to occupy my mind
The creature will not let go
From my tongue to my thumbs
to my mind to my eyes
I slowly go blind
Blinded by others
The creature holds my pupils downwards restraining my eye contact
Slowly a smile creeps over my departed face
A smile, no words, no eyes, no mind
The creature slithers through my teeth
pulling them down
making a dent in my tender lip.
I hear laughter
Enticed by a crowd, I walk towards it
But that creature then wraps around my neck
Pulling me to my knees
I can no longer walk
Because
I cannot speak.