Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia

I never liked crowds. Not since that mosh pit, two years ago. The fear of falling down, getting trampled. But when you're stuck in a crowd, you're stuck; whether you like it or not.

People moving past me. Being shoved in all directions. Sudden image of tripping down these steps and rolling all the way down. Thank goodness, it doesn't happen.

Three, two one. Safely down the stairs. Take a step forward, look left then right. There you are, a grin on your face. Then you seem me and that smile fades.

Crap. Is it me, or is it getting warm here? It's a little hard to breathe too. Stupid crowd. I want to say something, do something; smile, give a thumbs-up, yell congrats. Anything.

Too many people. Way too many. Getting very hard to breathe. You just stare at me. Wondering what the heck I'm doing here. I wonder the same thing too. Raise my hands in surrender, an admission of guilt. And back away.

Stupid crowd. Stupid stupid people. Most of all; stupid stupid stupid me.