-Not Okay-

I lost it
So did my laptop
The server too
.....................................................
We are all breathing
Like a dying old soul on its death bed
My eyes glued to the screen
Waiting for the server to load
And the laptop protests
With its harsh breath
Give us a break
Stop
Stop hitting the keyboard
It doesn’t work that way

The journal article
Half read
Sits there for two days
I delve into another
Did I reply to the emails?
Someone tagged me in Teams
Notification blinks
My eyes too

The ethics committee has the patience
for the whole world
New email
Reads
Amendments required
The 4th time

I sit there
Still
Why am I working on a non-working day?
The bin smells bad
The kitchen tiles are a mess
What’s for lunch?

Tomorrow’s Saturday
It doesn’t mean anything
I have school
Did I mark the assignments?
I am hungry
Twitter says
Someone tested positive
In Cox’s Bazar refugee camp
Monday is May 18

I look at my laptop
Did I save the word document?
It looks blank
Application is not responding
My brain too

No, I’m not okay
It’s okay to say
I’m not okay

I close my laptop
And my eyes
Let the tears do the job
Shall we go for a walk?
He holds my hand and asks
You want some cake?

Yeah!
I will be okay
And it’s okay to say
Not okay
Just say it

Say it to someone
You love
Say it to someone
Who cares
And listen
When someone says Not Okay
No judgment
No expert opinion
Just love and care ❤️