In the hush of the crowd, I stand so still,
A prisoner of thoughts, against my will.
Faces blur, voices merge in a haze,
Lost in a labyrinth, in endless maze.

Heartbeat quickens, breath grows tight,
Shadows loom larger in the fading light.
Words left unspoken, trapped in fear,
Echoes of silence ringing loud and clear.

Eyes meet mine, a fleeting glance,
I falter, I retreat, I lose my stance.
Seeking solace in an invisible shell,
A silent battle, a private hell.

Yet hope glimmers, a distant star,
I dream of courage, though it’s far.
One step forward, a whisper braves,
To break the chains, to leave the caves.