This poem isn't just about my cough attack one day, its also about how, though you may think they do, not everyone notices or understands the things you are dealing with. Just because you are walking around with puffy eyes, it doesn't mean everyone knows your boyfriend dumped you yesterday. Not everyone can understand just how crappy you feel. Just because you cough, it doesn't mean people know you have a chronic illness.
Third day of class
No one knows your name yet
Some don't know your face
Some probably assume
"She's sick already"
As you cough
and cough,
you notice the professor
is always asking people to repeat
when you cough over their question.
Today, we have a guest speaker
a soft spoken nurse
referencing her power point.
You cough.
And suddenly you KNOW...
you know its not a two-note cough
or even a three-note
Nope today you have a full on
loud, ugly
cough attack
Induced by God knows what
and suddenly you're gasping for air
cough cough cough
and instead of suppressing it
cough cough
you leave the room
cough
so you don't cause a scene.
Cough echoes in the bathroom
cough
cough
cough
cough
cough
cough cough cough cough
cough
you hope no one comes in
cough cough cough
your eyes are watering
cough cough
you're coughing
and coughing
and finally, its over.
You catch your breath,
return to class,
and you expect the people around you
to ask if you're okay,
worry in their faces,
concern in their eyes.
Even though you think
they noticed you when you left,
embarrassed, frazzled, and struggling,
they didn't.
