“Come on”
“Shut up”
“Behave”
when one day I burst into flame
when every notebook I held burned up
when dusty soot from attempts at art
just flew away

blinded by the pain
it’s difficult to see
when every bed is flammable
it’s difficult to sleep
enough sleep deprivation would
drive anyone insane

“Don’t play the victim”
“Don’t ask for pity”
“Stop your constant complaints”
“Don’t give the fire
power of mind
allow it to grow
into its own entity”

alive but aflame
hiding with all my might
they kept asking more
“Be normal”
"Helpful"
“Smile for fucks sake ”
while every glimpse of real
gave them a fright

when I in desperation sought
for water
at any cost
just make the pain stop
while their words
created drought

in my life
of burning flesh
I kept trying to forget
start fresh
got so good at pretending
invisible flames
my life slowly ending
just not aloud
my silence during emergency
made them proud

when there was barely any left
turned to dusty soot myself
turned mute
I dropped to my knees
I begged
they didn’t waste any time
before saying

“You have to understand,

everyone gets a little hot sometimes”