CEILING DEBRIS

Your foot kicks against some debris, and you realize you’ve come to a stop under the partially collapsed section of ceiling. You look up into the dark crevice, half-listening for the scratching sound of a nesting animal. You hear… something. You close your eyes to focus. The sound resolves itself as whispering, and it sounds so familiar… oh you know those voices, they’re talking about you, about your accomplishments, or really your lack of them, and you know they’re laughing about you behind your back like they always have and of course they bring up that time you tried so hard and it wasn’t enough of course it wasn’t enough it’ll never be enough, you will never be enough and they all know it they’ve always known it and will always be there to see you fail and know you’re never going to be enough… The whispers stop as you stumble back over the debris and you realize you’re gasping on deep, shuddering breaths. It takes a moment before you can collect yourself to move on, making a note to avoid that part of the house from now on. You rub at the sensation of frost on your limbs as you hurry away.