Smouldering

The heat. The ache. It comes in waves like the sea. Tears ebb and flow and the swollen heat in my chest rises and falls. Flames licking my ribcage and dancing up my spine. Neck tense, face swollen. I can’t but help think about means of escape. Physical. Emotional. But I stop. I breathe. I breathe again. Wiping away the last lingering tears on salt streaked cheeks, And soldier on. Heat subsiding but ever present. Smouldering.