Bit by Bit

A lack of interest, of enthusiasm, of concern—

I add it to the list,

wait for it to take its turn.

Maybe this time I’ll be lucky,

maybe I’ll give this one a miss.

Each day strikes differently.

Sleeplessness.

Speechlessness.

Mood.

Or something unnamed

that shatters my footing like an internal quake.

Some days,

my body forgets it belongs to me.

I try to remember what it’s like to be free—

but instead, I adjust,

just to see what difference it makes.

There was a time I danced around it,

denial tucked neatly behind a smile.

Now it moves with me,

walks beside me,

answers to my name.

It slipped in easily—

folded itself into the chemistry

like a hidden molecule of grief.

Your world shrinks.

Bit by bit.

And so do you.

They say, You’re stronger than this.

And maybe you are.

But there’s no rescinding,

no refund,

no return for what has changed inside.

You keep moving—

even if you no longer know

who’s doing the moving.