**What do you want me to say?**
That I was wrong? _You_ were right?
My hands tremble, filled with panic.
My legs bounce, encased with dread.
And my eyes are flooded and blurry.

Why are you running wild through my veins?

Was it my fault for letting this go on?
Would I have fought harder—kicked my way to the surface—if I had understood?
Would I not have let myself slip beneath the waves?

You poisoned me—my lungs.
Wrapping your hands around my throat.

never letting a single breath pass.
You denied it.
You didn’t want me to purge the rot you had planted inside. 

**Anxiety.**
Did you mean it?
To hollow me out?
To whisper lies loud enough to drown out the truth?

**Anxiety.**
Why did you keep me underwater until I stopped fighting?
Did you want to kill me?
Hand myself over to you because I gave up?

Tell me, **Anxiety**—
_what did I ever do to you?_