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