Just Breathe

A quick writing exercise.

Just breathe, it’s easy

The weights are pushing down

My ribcage compressed

Lungs screaming for air

 

Just breathe, it’s easy

Something we know from birth

We are underwater and yearn for it

Our heads break surface and we gasp

 

Just breathe, it’s easy

We can control it

In and out, over and over

Reign in the fear. Calm down.

 

Just breathe, it is not easy

When we’re choked by smoke

Held beneath crashing waves

Or simply running out of oxygen

 

I say to myself that I must breathe

I want to yell that I should open my mouth

Take in the oxygen that I need to live

But there you are, looking at me so placidly

 

Here I am.

Unable to break the surface.

My lungs deflated.