Story tick tock - a poem

[sueoffside]

Tick Tock

I check the clock behind the glass
It's 9:56am
I am one minute late and take a seat
Tick tock
A stale stodgy man calls my name, he looks like Geography or Maths personified.

I am rushed to a box room towering with filing cabinets and an uncomfortable chair.

Tick tock
We set off

"How're you feeling?"
Not great I-
"Sleeping ok?"
Sort of I find it hard
"Drinking?"
At the weekends
"Drugs"
....
"Are you still...

Tick tock

What happens next, still has me in shock

This man, with his wall full of academic accolades. This sedimentary rock or bullshit equation of a man does something that will stay with me forever.

This interrupting, furious note taker, this rapid fire question asker, lifts his hand and stuns me with a little charade; a sawing motion performed crudely on his opposite arm

He lets out a slight nervous chuckle.

Cutting myself
Self harm
Still too taboo for a professional to ask with sincerity?
"Well no I-"
"Oh good good, so thank you for coming in. I think we are going to keep you on the same medication, see how it goes. Any questions?"

I just stare past his wisps of remaining hair then down at my well worn "jazzy" shoes

Tick tock
Last bit of small talk

"I see you have an out there sense of style, hair's very bright you must have some confidence to look like that, I couldn't. You'll be fine."

Another awkward chuckle

He's thinking
Hurry up now
Tick tock
Lots of people to see

But you didn't see me?
Not as a human being,
As thinking, feeling.
As anything more than a file in your cabinet.
A name to check off on a long list of perceived human suffering.

Tick tock
I turn the corner and buzz the door
A little flustered, I look for the clock.
You have to be joking
It's just gone 10 o'clock

 

[rationaltake]

Thank you. That's a great poem and so very true. And so sad too.

 

[sueoffside]

Thank you. That's a great poem and so very true. And so sad too.

No, thank u! I'm glad u liked it x