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Final Entry

The last page of a therapy journal.

By Reid ChristmannPublished 4 days ago 1 min read
Top Story - July 2024
Final Entry
Photo by lilartsy on Unsplash

"This is the last page of this journal.

A record of strife that I never wish to read through again.

Unfortunately, I will need to buy a new one.

The problems never end, it seems."

I haven't had a catatonic episode since last Wednesday

but my chest constantly feels like it's about to burst,

my mind is so loud it's hard to keep things straight,

spinning like a motor in the red,

my fingers bounce across the desk

wishing it were a piano

as my foot taps the floor at an impossible tempo.

I only wish to distract myself, with music

or perhaps a game, or call a friend,

but there's no time to stop and smell the roses

because if I stop I'm dead.

This anguish is impossible to ignore

like turning your back on a housefire.

What would happen if I let it burn?

The thing is,

I don't know if I can go through trauma like that again.

My body falls limp to prevent a panic attack

and the last one felt like it was frying my brain.

I wanted to scream louder than I have in my life,

to tear my skull out of my head

as if it were the very thing killing me.

It's a scar, an image burned into my mental retinas

and one I only wish I could forget

but the smell of smoke still lingers.

I can't help but think that I'm broken;

My wires are crossed

sending mismatching signals

back and forth and back and forth and back and forth and back and forth

until I think I'm in danger every time my Dad says he's proud of me,

until I feel like she's lying when my Mom says she loves me,

until I assume I'm a burden to whoever I'm around,

until I forget what it's like to love myself

and doing so becomes a chore

dirty and laborious,

like replacing the firewood

and sweeping up the ash.

"Last page. What now? I think I'll leave a bit of room just in case."

Free VerseMental HealthFor Fun

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Top insight

  1. Heartfelt and relatable

    The story invoked strong personal emotions

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Comments (13)

  • Hector Allemandabout 4 hours ago

    I read Hector's article on "Final Entry" and I must say, it hit me right in the feels like a ball hitting a barn door! The way he captured the essence of endings was both poignant and humorous. I laughed, I cried, and then I re-read it because it was just that good!

  • Max Gachetabout 4 hours ago

    Max's "Final Entry" on Vocal Media is a poetic masterpiece that hits harder than my morning alarm clock! With each word read, I was drawn deeper into the emotions, like trying to resist the last cookie in the jar. Max nailed it! Check it out for a rollercoaster of feelings and poetic charm.

  • Aymeric Delaplaceabout 8 hours ago

    Wow, reading this article felt like riding an emotional rollercoaster! It's like going through a maze of feelings and thoughts, only to reach the final entry and go, "Wait, what?!" Loved every twist and turn, just like a good mystery novel. Kudos to Abraham Verninac for keeping us on our poetic toes!

  • Abraham Verninacabout 11 hours ago

    Oh, the anticipation of a final entry! Like waiting for the last slice of pizza in the box. Abraham Verninac's article is a poetic masterpiece, striking a chord deep within the heart. It's like the grand finale of a fireworks show - dazzling, emotional, and leaving you craving more. Brilliant work!

  • Short and nice. kindly check my stories too

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  • Sarah Daniela day ago

    Beautifully poignant! The imagery of tending to a fire perfectly captures the bittersweet feeling of reaching the end. Leaving room for more is a lovely touch.

  • I must say, reading Angela's "Final Entry" felt like a rollercoaster ride through emotions! That piece hit me right in the feels, then spun me around with its poetic twists and turns. I laughed, I cried, I accidentally spilled my coffee – Angela really knows how to stir those emotions! Brilliant!

  • angela hepworth2 days ago

    So emotional and powerfully worded. Wishing you the best ♥️

  • Addison Alder2 days ago

    Beautifully expressed, richly and believably emotional, with a well-judged note of optimism at the very end. Well deserved Top Story :)

  • Congrats on TS. I'm really hoping this is a fantastic work of fiction; if not, I'm praying for your health. This is a true emotional roller coaster.

  • Andrea Corwin 2 days ago

    Congrats on TS🎉. Powerful emotions in this poem - loving self becomes a chore like replacing firewood and sweeping up the ash ❣️

  • Congrats on your top story.

RCWritten by Reid Christmann

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