Trapped.
You hear them outside the door,
hushed voices beckoning you—
Coaxing a frightened animal.

You sit,
desperate to halt the spiral,
grasping for lifelines you don’t have:
no blade, no music.
Cornered.

Familiar voices call out,
None are safe.
Your mind races,
chased by the fear of being seen—
their worry,
their pity.
All you ever accomplish is being a burden.

Be better,
Have fun,
laugh in the glow of a carefree moon.
Instead crescent moons dance across your hands
Nails the paint nocturnes of your pointless pain
Your hands the canvas

Why do you ruin everything?
Why do you have to make it about yourself?
The thoughts drag you under.
To quiet them,
Hurt them,
Make them stop.

Your sleeve slides up.
Scars stare back,
silent witnesses to your retreat,
Reminders of your broken promises
Of histories rule,
It repeats.
Search for sharper objects—
Teeth.

Not enough.
The voices outside continue,
reassuring whispers
Into enemies
by chaos in your head.

A note slips beneath the door:
“Are you okay?”
You cannot answer—
Your voice belongs to them now.
You tear the paper,
a feeble attempt at communication.
They don’t understand.
You don’t understand.

You bite harder,
bruises blooming nightshade.
Punishment for the scene you’ve caused.
Please, let this be enough,
To quiet your thoughts,
To return you to normal.

Your mind slows,
as bedtime is called.
Your legs obey,
breath steadies.
The door slides open.

You slip past their outstretched hands-
“I just want to go to bed,”
Your hollow voice is a stranger’s.

Beneath foreign sheets,
Rub your arms,
guilt pools in your chest.
Apologize for the scene,
worrying him.

Knock at his cabin door,
he doesn’t answer.
leave a message:
“I’m okay.”

It’s a lie.
You know will haunt you forever.
Why do you always make a scene?