Liar

When I wake up
I ignore the sound
The scratching on the walls
The whispers in my ear
I don’t pay any attention to
The writing appearing before me
Or to the blood in the water
The smell of pain and fear is all
Around, but I pretend it’s roses
Nothing here to see smell hear touch
I close my eyes and ignore everything
Until I can’t sense them at all anymore

But I know

They’re all still there
I hold my breath and nothing moves
Yet I’m never alone
I can shut out the truth but it’s always there
On the tip of my tongue, waiting
Pretending nothing’s wrong, I walk away
Always aching to look behind me, but
Never daring to turn around and face it
There’s nothing so echoing as the sound
Of emptiness that I know is
Brimming with despair