Tales from Tachycardia

forewarned

(thus, proverbially, forearmed)

loudspeaker blares

announcing a drill

(“this is just a drill”)

“active-shooter”

stampedes halls

auditory assault

wages full-scale

nervous system

warfare

heart thuds

galloping breast to throat

leading the charge

toward gathering

panic

aloud she voices

contextual link

“that’s so 5 am count”

launching logic

iron-clad armor

pounding

resonates through

quivering organs

forcing belated

realization

door

to a mental closet

rattled unlocked

possessed traces

penetrate

past to present

palpitating