A breathless house wheezes

Contest: Breathless Sponsor: Constance La France Written: 24/05/2025 Quote "To breathe is to live, and without breath, there is no life." — Lailah Gifty Akita A breathless house wheezes Winter looms with frost-laced breath, this house shudders in anticipation- Its narrow corridors wince at the thought. These rooms have shrinking walls, their windows wedged shut, And doors refuse to stay open. The air hangs heavy, like woodsmoke curling through blocked flue pipes. I do not breathe- I sip air through a bent straw, and when the wheeze arrives, it’s like a violin strung too tight, always threatening to snap. Running was a rebellion, still is, playing football, was a war of attrition, With head covered by a towel, hovering over a steam bowl for hours. Today, I carry an inhaler, like a priest carries a bible- not always believing, but when breath becomes prayer, I reach for it.