Panic.

Air forced harsh into unwilling lungs, 

Heart flying directly for the sun

Skin crusted with salt of tears and sweat

Mind reeling as I fail at accepting this new reality. 

I force the bile down, life becoming too hard to swallow. The room spins and for a moment I'm certain the sky is falling. But it's me.

...

Eyes open and slow deep breaths return.  

Yet I still exist in a newly fractured reality.

I manage to catch my sinking heart, gather my breath, and stand on shaking legs. 

I am strong. 

I am strong. 

I am strong. 

But I can still be broken.