i get up, i get up, and i get up.

i don’t seem to go anywhere.
in fact, i stay still.

my hands reach out in front of me, but i don’t see the movement of my fingers as i reach out into the darkness.

there’s nothing in front of me. there’s no light, there’s nothing.

only me.
it’s only been me.
i turn my head, hoping for reassuring faces.
there’s nothing
i hear nothing, i see nothing, i feel nothing, and even then, it’s overwhelming.
i can hear my heart racing from around me, the bum bum bum pounds through my ears, i hear my blood traveling through my body, and my breath is loud, but i’m not breathing.
i walk, but i’m not walking.
i’m going somewhere, but there’s nowhere to go.
it’s cold, hot, and in between,
there’s nothing, nothing, nothing
and everything, everything, everything
blackness, ringing.
needles are sticking into me frequently, pricking my skin, but there is nothing near me.
i walk and i walk and i walk and i walk and i walk
and i
walk
and the blackness turns grey
and i feel myself move
and i hear the gentle whirr of something unfamiliar and familiar
and i hear a sound
and i hear the sound
and i recognize it as music
and the greyness fades

and my eyes open
and i whine
and my hand moves towards something,
and i press a smooth surface.
the music stops.
and i sit up.

and i get ready for school again.