my cheekbones ache like they've been punched in
my nose, shattered

the little drummer boy is making such a racket
and has replaced his drum with my temples

my eyelids feel the weight of gravity,
nob turned up to high

my shoulders tense and knotted
an old rotting tree

pressure bounds on my eyes from all directions
the kittens claws and teeth dig in

my arms swing back and forth lazily
uncontrolled in the wind

chills run up my spine
down my arms and legs

someone's breathing down my neck
turn on my heels
there is no one to be found

a cold sweat breaks out on my forehead
bile rises in my throat

press shivery hands to my hot clammy skin trying to cool it down

my legs are so quivery from the cold to stand
so I sit where I am
on the pavement in a damp alley
and hug my legs to my chest
attempting but failing to conserve warmth

I'm alone
and they know it

the wind shoves at me trying to push my face to the dirt
the ground underneath me starting to shake
the molecules in the air start to quiver

a storm is on the rise