Her Other Voice

She started screaming
in her head
and couldn’t stop.

All day long
she was followed by
the sound of herself
pounding the bars
clawing to escape...

And no one seemed
to hear.
And there was no one
to tell.
She listened to herself
saying things:
fine thank you,
I’ll have that report
this afternoon
when I’m finished

screaming…

When she finally stepped away
the echoes followed her
for a while.

It took a long time
to become quiet
inside.

When her screaming subsided,
she could hear
her other voice
quietly revealing

a peaceful exit.

©2013 A.L. Freeman