9/12/20, Cassandra Murphy

9/12/20 By Cassandra Murphy

I am sitting in my bed with my eyes closed The lights are still on My shirt is only halfway buttoned, and the bare skin pebbles at the surface And I am wondering to myself why I always act as though I am being perceived Even alone in a cold room, curtains drawn I take shallow breaths and forget what it is to fully exhale I wonder if I breathe beautifully If the air that fills my lungs makes music upon impact A day comes that I no longer appear I relax my body, my stomach bloats and my face skin folds and I am truly happy I laugh loudly and someone says they’ve never heard me that loud before My voice always a decibel above a whisper