Doors

I never knew there were two sides to it.

Doors were always familiar, till now.
It was my shield against the world,
my soundproof against the noise,
my order against the chaos.

Then I was on the other side.
Closed out, not in.
Unfamiliar.

On the other side,
the silence stabs the ears,
the stillness burns the skin.
The chill freezes the heart,

The door is shut hermetic, leaving me on the unfamiliar side.

Once in a while though, she’d peek out.
And when the door creaks,
I straighten my posture,
flash my smile,
and proffer my best.

Then she closes it.
And I’m back to feeling the stabbing in my ear,
burning of the skin,
and freezing of the heart.

Then I wait patiently for the next creaking sound.