3…..2…..1….. 

heart races

stomach drops

blood runs cold

it’s happening again!

eyes shut tight

paralyzed with terror.

please not here, not now.

I’m teetering

400 miles up

on this tight rope

I’m walking.

no one

can hear me scream

but me. 

1…..2…..3……

don’t say a word

just breathe

in and out.

act normally

open your eyes

touch the ground

it’s not happening.

Ghosts look so very real.

Hard to discern

no imminent harm

in pursuit of me.

After all these years,

they still besiege me,

unexpectedly.