Familiar as Strange

You sit down

Here you are once more

Wondering why in the world you’ve done this to yourself again

You know you really should’ve learned the first time

Your knuckles clench

You break out in a sweat

And that knot in your stomach gets a little bit tighter

All you want to do is leave

But unfortunately, you’re in too deep

There’s no going back now

Then, whatever you are sitting in slowly reclines

You look up but close your eyes

Because everyone you’ve ever known said not to go towards the light

Your mouth opens in fear but no sound comes out

Then it’s as if everything else just disappears

You’re left with 1 single noise

You hear the clinking of metal

It sounds as though it’s getting closer… and closer… and closer

It stops. You open your eyes wondering if the torture is done

But you quickly realize that it’s only just begun

You’re left with a decision

Keep your eyes open and know

Or keep your eyes closed and don’t

You decide on the second.

This is it. This is the end.

They have full control now.

They decide where you go. They decide how you move.

You’re in their hands

All you want to do is get up. You’re tempted to.

You wish to signal your hands in distress but they already told you, if you did… bad things would happen

So you just hope you’re one of the lucky ones

All of a sudden that knot in your stomach drops to the tip of your toes.

Time slows. Then it stops. 30 seconds, just turned into eternity.

You realize you’re not alone. You hear the cries of the others

The sickening feeling in your stomach worsens

You try to block them out.

You focus instead on the brave men and women who came before you

You try to take courage in them

And then it all ends. It’s all over it’s done.

As you whisper, “why did I believe them when they said it’d be fun?”

Your head is throbbing and your stomach hurts but way deep down you know it could’ve been worse.

You stand once more trying to steady your feet

As finally you escape that old black seat

Then at last you hear that familiar voice say

Thank you for riding, have a nice day.

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