You told me

(I have to remind myself
how to breathe.)

It seems such a silly thought that
rebounds through my lungs,
crawling through the tight spaces in between
the crooks and indents of my heart. It's the one,
the only thing that's gotten close enough to
touch it with claws, encasing it, tasting the bitter-
sweet drops of my mutant blood.

Sweeping up the dust of many memories
but so recent; how could they feel as if I had known
this all along? The feeling, the strain in my throat as I
screeched out air- any sound had escaped with my sanity,
and it ran with heels on, clicking on the marble flooring of
my soul, slowly the clock ticks my time away. Time away.

For some odd reason, this parchment-dry mouth of mine
cannot sing like the canary I know is caged within your
ribs. You have loved, that much I know is sure. But it is the
grip of fear that you will not admit to, that is holding
you back from me. Fear screams, and it's as if I'm crying for you.

Because you do not know how, do you remember?

It's as if
I'm your pain.

(The room spins dizzily; I have
forgotten how to be human.)