Surrounded by crowds, Yet no faces to see. Laughter, giggling, whispers But why couldn't I hear any of them? Was i deaf? Yet cries pierced through the din. The cries grew louder Eyes bleeding, Ears bleeding, senses overwhelmed.

Chill spreading, darkness closing in. Nobody "Nobody" I was there, I was Crawling on the ground Closer to dead

Closer to hell

She saw my downfall, Knew it all. Where is she? Right there Right there, before me, mocking She is me I am she

Bound to something, pulled down Falling into the vivid This darkness, invisible, Yet palpable. Nobody is there. No wait, there is somebody Attached to me, it sees me It does, I see it too.

Couldn't see the sun for a long time But it was all sunny outside Did anything penetrate the numbness? It's better here, it is.

Is it? I am bare breast, but it is pleasant I'm better now, getting better Am I?

~Ankita Sarkar