She

She is a predator;
lurking round corners,
hiding behind closed doors,
she waits for you,
waits for your naïve
vulnerability.
She sits patiently,
waiting for the right time
to pounce;
to take your logic,
your heart, your rationality.
and she will leave you
shattered, broken like
a horcrux.
She is preciously green
and revels in
her regal glow,
capturing your soul,
driving you to that
unforgivable place.
You dwell in fear;
you are not good enough,
not clever enough,
not happy enough.
She pulls you from yourself,
screaming and kicking,
until finally you retreat,
you give into her;
she becomes you.

Katie is 22 years old, recently completed a masters’ in English and plans to undertake a PhD and pursue a career in academia.  She is extremely introverted (and proud), and currently trying to find her feet as an anxious postgraduate in the adult world. Writing — whether it be journals, poems, or essays — often helps her attempt to make sense of the world around her. She has been writing poetry for about about 7 years, heavily based on her own personal experiences of mental health. More recently she has started writing a range of articles and blog posts for different organisations that reflect some of her other passions and interests, such as feminism, education, and sport.