I muster up a smile
my thoughts surface like
distant hands against the ice of a frozen lake
dragging their nails across the cold

"I'm...fine" I lied, looking at the wall
my ears rushed like a train passing through a station
a small gust, then a deafening roar
then nothing

I disguised the shaking in my hand
as I ran it through my hair
"I'm just tired, I'm gonna leave"
my voice cracked on the word "leave"
I wasn't sure if she'd heard but I'd already turned away

The hands had clawed at the ice relentlessly
and now they'd broken through