The rift opened, dragging me with it.

I fell down,

down,

down,

as the darkness engulfed me

The farther down I got

The louder yet grew the voices

The voices that told me I would never escape

That I would be stuck here forever

I couldn’t breathe

Eat,

Sleep,

Think straight without correcting course at least once,

I couldn’t live here forever

I couldn’t be trapped in the ravine

Waiting for someone to hoist me out

So I ran

I ran from the rift which held me hostage

I ran from the clowns who kicked dirt in my face

I ran until I caught my breath,

My appetite,

My will to live

The rift closed, and I stood on it, victorious

And grateful

That I didn’t give my life to the rift.