Choke Hold

I swallow my pride

Til it chokes me out

Smile stretched tight

While I'm full of doubt

Everyone talks

But no one hears

I'm drowning in noise

And choking on fear

My past keeps crawling

under my skin

Regret's got me

And it's digging within

Can't run

Can't scream

Stuck in this never-ending dream

Bite down

Hold tight

I'm barely making it alive

No faith

No light

They broke me down

No voice

Just rage

Crushed beneath what I can't explain

Can't breathe

When the memories bite

Sick in my skin

And it never feels right

Eyes wide shut

Just to block it out

Sink to the floor

Just to feel the ground

I speak, I laugh, I cry, I break, I beg

But I don't make a sound

Kicked down again with a foot to the neck

Falling deeper into nothingness