Pain.

I turn over & wake to pain

There’s a buzzing in my ear,

A stabbing pain that’s in my ear

I can’t get rid of it.

I curl up, press my hand to my ear & hold it

Wish it to go away

It stays.

I want to cry

I want to stay curled up

I get up

I go to my parents’ room

Go to my dad’s side

Wake him up

Curl up next to him under the blanket

The warmth of his body provides my shivering one w/ enough heat to soothe me back to sleep

Or at least, I try

The flaring pain is still there

But for once I lie still,

Paralyzed by this buzzing that won’t go away

Before I finally doze off

I wake up the next morning

Ten minutes until I have to leave

Can I make it?

It’s only 2nd grade

3rd grade

I’m happy I was able to sleep in

But now I’m panicking

I don’t want to be late

But hey, the pain’s gone.

What on earth even happened?

Note: Sort of based on a true story from like ten or so years ago - I’ve had problems w/ my hearing & my ears for as long as I can remember. I can distinctly remember the night I described, bc the pain was so bad. Anyways- it’s gotten better; hearing is still absolute trash sometimes, but my ears only ring when someone’s screaming/yelling at me (my mom)