Pulse drumming a steady war beat

In my throat, my wrists

Heartbeat heaving heavily within the cage of my chest

Thudding rampantly, desperate for escape

Expanding and enlarging till it wavers on the edge of detonation

Each pause before the next thump

Lasting years

Sweat slicks my palms

Creating the slippery feel of trodden mud

Saliva surges in my mouth

Flooding away my sense of calm

I swallow and swallow to no avail

Too overrun by the pounding waves

While my heartbeat heaves heavily

Insides of cheeks begin to tingle and burn

Lighting a fire fueled by fear

Illuminating the thoughts of imminent danger

My mouth becomes sour

An acrid ash tasting of defeat and devastation

The taste a bellowing call of victory for the enemy

While my heartbeat heaves heavily

A phantom limb grips my neck

Constricting until my breaths turn choppy and shallow

I gasp and grasp for air to revive my feelings of safety

That are being choked out of me

Fuzzy dots dance, delighted as blurriness takes hold

Voices ring in my ears

But all I hear are hollow bells of sounds

While my heartbeat heaves heavily

Discomfort drifts through my stomach

A writhing whorl of dread

Twisting and contorting as fast as a helicopter’s wings

Cutting a path through my belly to my heart

Just as smoothly as the blades cut through the air

While my heartbeat heaves heavily

Muscles twitch uncontrollably

Each jolt the recoil of a gun fired

The unexpected result of a horror dawning

Little pulses pitching my body like a ship tossing at sea

Running rampant, revolting my logical side

My head screams stridently at my body

Yet my body ignores 

And continues to weather the abuse of panic

While my heartbeat heaves heavily