The Presence

I’m in my safe place

Yet the dark silhouette 

Follows me everywhere,

Creeps into my head, 

Leaves me empty and gasping for air.

It holds my waist, 

Sways me back and forth;

I laugh even in the pain, 

Trying to ignore its presence,

But it won’t let go. 

It covers every part of me 

And clutches tight;

It reminds me of its existence 

Each time I breathe right. 

It screams in my ears 

The cacophony unbearable 

And yet I stand still 

Pretend to not listen.

My insides are burning,

Even as on the outside I rejoice,

While it sends trembles down my soul,

Tickles my fears 

In the worst way possible.

One thing I am puzzled by 

Is what you see.

Do you see the shadows lurking

Underneath the surface?

Or do you just see the obviousness

I put out for the world to witness?