“social anxiety”
my social anxiety
makes it hard for me to breathe.
my chest begins to compress
and my thoughts become foreign to me
as if I hadn’t been rehearsing my answers in my head
since the question was presented.
“Tell us your name and a fun fact about yourself.”
as if that is so easy.
suddenly
I can’t remember the phrase I’ve been repeating all day
scattered from memory
my hands shake
my thoughts race
my face becomes flush
and I laugh to cover up
the fact that my vocal cords are being crushed
by the pressure of measuring up
as your eyes
and everyone else’s
watch me
closely
endlessly
while my eyes dart around the room
trying to distract myself from what everyone else must be thinking
as my thoughts are blank at the simple question of
“What is your name?”
I Don’t Know
I Don’t Know
I Don’t Know
Please
Ask someone else.