Faces are flying past, accompanied by a cacophony of footsteps
Everyone’s desperately sprinting up the staircase

I put my head down and continue the race
The years whiz by beneath my feet
My breaths come quickly, but I’ll recover eventually
I can’t feel my legs, but it’ll be worth it someday
As long as I keep up, I’ll be fine

But my feet are cramping, my legs failing
Every shaky step is irreversible
My head aches and sweat drips from my soul
The runners dodge around me as I collapse, head spinning

Once upon a time the world was neat and simple
Like being curled inside a cozy cardboard box
Waking up to Vivaldi and blueberry pancakes was my only responsibility on a Saturday
I could sit in a tree and convince myself I was riding a dragon
My mind fizzed with magic, dreams, and happy endings
I felt like more than just a face in the crowd

Now life’s allure resurfaces only in scattered moments
Fleeting illusions that evaporate before my eyes
My brain is brewed in numbers, failures, and fear
At midnight I soak in bitterness and scribble in red crayon
Skipping every song because nothing fixes this feeling

Every year brings another dimension
Something new to carry
Something new to lose
Something new to fear
Infinity is an inescapable prison

I’m so tired of running up this staircase
But there’s no other way forward
So I put my head down and continue the race.