It hits like a fist, tightens like wire,
Breath burns out, lungs catch fire.
Heartbeats stutter, world turns black—
Walls close in, no turning back.

Thoughts scream, hands freeze,
Everything's crumbling—can't even breathe.
And in the dark, I'm trapped, can't see—
Fighting to break from the terror that's me.

     — Lungs on Fire , 10/2/24