Falling to my knees,
Heavy and hard.
Breath puffs forcefully
Between my lips.
Chest is now empty,
A nothingness surrounds me.
My tears don’t wait.
Sheets of water
Stream down each cheek.
The dust quickly shifts to dirt.
It splatters onto
My already stained shorts.
Panting ensues,
I grab at my neck.
A primal need for air.
Breathe, I tell myself,
You want to breathe.
My thoughts get in the way
As the constant flow
Is now forming puddles at my knees.
Collapsing at the waist,
Palms splashing wetness high into the air.
The coolness jolts me upright.
Covered in muddy droplets,
I think to myself
How ridiculous I must look.
For that instant,
I am free of the pain
That brought me to my knees.
DoRee MelNic 