I am a coffee fool.

I was drawn in by the warm aroma.

So, I took a sip.

And instead of cascading across
My eager taste buds and
Down into my stomach,
It branched upward,
Rewiring my brain,
Tapping into my senses,
Manipulating my mind into
Believing this longing for caffeine;
A need for that immediately jolting swallow.

I didn’t need it.

I never needed it until I allowed
That miniscule stream to enter and
Transform my free will
Into a desperate dependence.

I tried to stop
When I was lucky enough to realize
The lack of control I had over my own body,
The games that were being played without my being aware.

I tried and…

Wretched alarms pounding vigorously at my temples,
Eyelids fluttering helplessly,
Thoughts processing,
Then fading sluggishly,
Images growing blurry,
Body screaming for a remedy
To relinquish the misery…
The remedy.

Each time,
Each pathetic attempt,
I gave in.

Why? Because…
I’m a coffee fool.