Pandora’s Box

By Sara Nadeen Ashbourne

Pandora’s box
In my mind
My anxiety is like Pandora’s box
Damaging patterns occur
The curiosity inside triggered by passing words
A whisper calls for me to open it
It’s hypnotic and sweet
Crazy yellow with swirls of black smoke swarm around me
An overthinker
Overwhelmed by dark voices
Swallowing me whole
Trapped from within
I try to close the box but freeze up
The vicious taunts slashing at my self-worth
It’s suffocating
I cry from the outside
Silently cry within the void
Self-loathing
All I get back are laughs
Behind the tears and blurred vision
A dim light glows like a firefly
Gradually getting brighter
You appear
As if by magic
You heard my hearts’ call
My anguish
You touch the box
I watch as it closes
The yellow smoke dissipates
The waves of my anxiety fades
Freed from my mental prison
The voices muted
My soul soothed by your presence,
In your ocean eyes I know that I am safe
My friend, your smile welcomes me
The hugs given let me know that I will be okay
The emotions shall pass
My mind is at ease
It is clear to see what really matters
With you next to me
In the present moment
I’ll lean on you a bit more if that is alright
Just until I learn to close my Pandora’s box