By Madalyn R. Lovejoy
I see a vintage lamp
A zodiac tapestry
Paintings hung on the wall
An overcrowded book shelf
And an array of half-dead plants
I can feel the weight of a blanket
The mattress below me
My clothes itching against skin
Paired with the harsh clench of my teeth
I can hear music playing
Cars racing down the street
The occasional siren wailing in the distance
I can smell the remnants of incense
And bergamot from a diffuser
I can taste the rush of blood on my tongue
I breathe in deeply as a restless feeling
Leaves me exactly where I started:
Unsettled and anxious
Madalyn R. Lovejoy (she/they) is a part-time data entry and compliance specialist studying Psychology and Gender, Women’s, & Sexuality Studies at the University of Iowa. They enjoy knitting, reading books that make them question humanity, and being out in nature. Published and forthcoming work can be found at Argotist Online Poetry, Delicate Friend, Sage Cigarettes, and Wishbone Words. They can be found anywhere @mad_lovejoy.
