Prelude

Fluorescent lights
show the faces
bright & real
a blur of life
whizzes by
her brain in
Saturday night slow motion
not able to take it all in
unable to process
what the senses send
to the nerve center
the brain atrophies
so quickly
with non-use

The errands are invented
the reasons fictitious
she just had to leave
for a brief reprieve
from the chaos
the nothingness
a chance to do
even if the doing
is so trivial
contrived

It was a prelude
to the dreaded day
a glimpse of things to come
foreshadowing of anxiety
a dull ache in the head
involuntary clench in the stomach
the brightness mocks her
the lights that were meant to aid
now make her shade her eyes
turn her face
to the dark
the cold wind
then back to the soft warm glow
of the chaos
of home.