In The Ring

Round one.
Breathing quickens
Muscles become tense
Chest caves
Everything vibrates,
But I can't
Even lift
My weighted head,
Strapped down,
Frozen in place.

Round two.
I'm no longer
In danger.
But others are.
But I'm
Too small
Too weak
Too scared stiff
To protect.

Round three.
It's so loud.
Screaming
Piercing my ears
And again,
I'm frozen stiff.
But this time,
Chains are broken
From my ankles.

Round four.
My closed throat
Is loosened,
But hasn't let go.
But I can run now.
Bound up the stairs
To my physical safety,
But not without anxiety
For everyone else.

Round five.
I can finally move.
I've gotten past
Freeze,
I can't fight,
But I can move.
I can run.
And that's more
Than I could do
Round one.

Round zero.
It takes over again.
A memory
Controls my
Emotions
Movements
Thoughts.

But.
A few rounds later,
It's a VHS
Locked in a
Box
Behind cabinets
Behind a wall
In a basement
In a bank.
I can walk out.
Soon,
I'll be free.