Cold Turkey

every breath seems ragged,
dragged into my body,
my throat constricts
to block the pain of living from my lungs...

vision a constant blur,
faces inconsistent,
colors run together,
as I try to stare through unshed tears…

words trip and fall,
diving to the floor,
half-completed thoughts,
and silence punctuated with a sigh…

the momentary struggles,
forcing each heartbeat,
aware of the involuntary,
of the agony of rushing blood…

until the second passes,
I look away,
gather my strength,
and manage another breath.