Withdrawal

Bury yourself deep
until you have no contact
like a turtle pulling into his shell
under the sand.

Comforting as the space is 
the blank walls begin to numb you
slowing emotions
decelerating breath
until a sort of paralysis sets in
and the chill fear of nothingness
grips, vice-like.

Disturbing dreams, night terrors, 
even predators would be preferable 
to this struck-dumb-stuck-down-impostor
-maybe-this-is-all-there-is state
deep within your shell

with the pounding of waves
far off.

©Janet Henderson  5th September 2019