the ambiguity in illegible words
screams in the back of my neck
farther behind what i never wanted to know
anymore when i left.
it all faded softly to grey
and flaked off the front of my memory
like fingernails against dry skin
scraping with a peaceful apathy
against reality that ceased to be real
years ago. now it tightens
like a knot in my throat
knowing that the fear i wanted
so badly to leave behind
is trailing swiftly at my feet
and gazing over my shoulder
from inches away in a long
yellow hallway somewhere
behind a voice i'll never respond to again.