Poem: "A Conversation With My Anxiety"

Knock on the next door

Hello, may I come in?

         At your own risk

Step back

Wait a second

Think a little

What’s behind that door

         A path to your goals

         A path to somewhere else

         There’s a fifty percent chance

         No helpline

         You're on your own

Time travel

Back to that day

Numerous days

You have done this before

         Remember the fear

         Your hands trembling

Palms sweating

Legs shaking

A limited vocabulary

Think about it once again

         Last day

         Packing up your memories

         Crying your goodbyes

         Leaving the familiar

         Unsure of tomorrow

You conquered

         But you were afraid

         You spiraled back and forth

         You sat with the what if’s

         You regretted

You achieved

         But you spent days worrying

         You closed yourself off

         You were weak

         You let me win

You didn’t lose

         Defeated by your fears

You endured

         You failed

You prevailed

         At your own risk

You will be victorious

Will you?

I will.

Preeti Pasupulati