insidious
creeping poison -
it begins slowly,
spreading filament-thin tendrils
over the surface
of
my
mind

then the tendrils turn inwards,
searching,
growing,
and I find myself trapped
as a plant,
once nourished,
cut off from the sun.

it begins slowly
as all things:
hints of apathy when plugging away
at my favorite game,
the need, the craving,
to chug a bottle of root beer in the morning
or risk crashing,
no strength to keep up a weary facade

And worse,
the creeping,
slow,
insidious
wondering -

*is it even there at all?