My heart
a ticking time bomb
beating faster and faster
louder and louder.
Until it began to sink
in a wonderful way.
A time bomb ticking
faster and faster
louder and louder
now with the weight of it’s heavy anchor
pulling deeper and deeper
downward
or maybe inward.

White knuckles on the steering wheel
gripping tight at ten and two
all I can do to calm the earthquakes
stemming from my chest
and radiating through my finger tips.

My stomach is tortuous
twisting and turning
in an effort to keep out my frenzied heart.
A turf war
as the anchor drags it downward
threatening to invade occupied territory.

Now faster and faster
louder and louder.
My heart is banging on every inch of my chest
desperately wanting my attention.
Franticly, screaming and banging
begging me to be rational.

Or maybe, just maybe
my heart was bouncing and screaming
as high off the adrenaline
as I was.
Maybe it smiled as it ran
eyes closed, scissors in hand.
Perhaps the cool façade
I held
only held in my expression.

In the dark of the night
the sun found its way to my cheeks
as they burned
hotter and hotter
until the sunburn left
its brand on my skin.
The only visible sign
reflecting my inner state.

Outside of the car,
the only light shone from windows lit up
by families
ignorant to the
earthquakes, turf wars, and ticking time bombs
so close to their safe
quiet homes.

The earthquake spread
its destruction to my legs
as the right one focused
slow and steady on the gas
and the left bounced
at a pace to match the my heart.

The car crawled forward
past the families
safe in their homes.
I was a frantic fish
desperately dancing in the unfamiliar air
begging to be released
in the center of the calm,
peaceful lake.

The car stopped
and there was silence.
The radio played,
the engine hummed,
the cars sped by.
Awaiting the inevitable mass destruction,
my breath was taken,
it all stopped.

The cold hand encompassed my cheek
and the lips pressed against mine
with a contradicting force and gentleness
stopping the earthquakes
the turf war
the sinking
and shaking
the faster
the louder
and the ticking time…