Escaping the Crowd

Silent aisles, quiet fears, lurking near

Hidden in the chaos, my mind's unclear

Standing in Walmart, my calm starts to shake

Looking at bread and snacks, a peaceful break

Suddenly a crowd, swelling like a tide

My heart pounds harder, can't run, can't hide

Triggered by the noise, the closing in

Breathing starts racing, feeling the spin

My bag of chips drops, chaos in my view

All I want is to find my way through

Run for the door, escape the storm

Held hostage by fears, I try to transform

Crowded space, too much to endure

Triggered and moving fast, searching for the cure

PTSD's shadow, it lurks in the crowd

A silent scream, loud and unbowed

Medication helps but can't always control

The rush, the panic, the breaking soul

I ran to save my life, I needed to flee

Finding peace again, just trying to be

In the quiet, away from the fear's embrace

Seeking solace in a calmer space