sometimes when I am under stress
it's not enough to do my best

and I distract myself from that
act like I can take back that fact

in fact I undermine my efforts
just to make myself feel better

always around people
because I can't feel when we're together

I'm out late
I'm with my friends

I'm tired of them
but I pretend

it's better than what's in my head
I burn the candle at both ends

I burn myself with limerence
and my mindlessness shines in a
bright line of afterimages

dead echoes of this emptiness