Fear
Fear wraps its tentacles around my heart. Fear of not doing enough... not being enough... Even tighter, till my breath is gone and I cannot move. It holds me, its captive. "Fight the deadly serpent," part of me insists. "Do not let this evil win." but the fear is too strong. "I will never let you go!" it cries. "When you want to open up, I'll be there... waiting. I grow stronger when you falter. I rejoice in your mistakes. I will always prevent you from pursuing your dreams. I will always oppose you, you can never defeat me. For I am you!" Again it squeezes to prove its power over me. I shudder and shrink into myself. No one else can see this demon... my fear. "Stop." they tell me. "It's silly to be scared." I know. There is nothing, waiting in the shadows. No dragon lies in wait beyond these walls, the walls I constructed to protect myself the walls I refuse to tear down, immobilized by fe