Numbers just don't stick on me the way words do
I see numbers and I freeze up
My eyes widen
My chest tightens and my heart races
My breath catches
I feel small, stupid
But I just don’t understand them
I am immune
Instead of burrowing into my mind and claiming it
They simply bounce off
Like my skin is made of metal
Rubber
Some impenetrable material
They say I’m unintelligent
“You should know this by now.”
They say I’m lazy
“You’re not trying hard enough.”
But I just don’t understand them
Maybe I am just stupid
Maybe I am just lazy
Or maybe I’m just scared of numbers