Mental Block

[Keith]

It started with dread and finished with embarrassment.
There was nothing to blame except the scratchy 
sponge resting in my skull. 

Grace was given and exceptions made,
but there it was, the final hour,
and what had been achieved?

The church bells tolled,
one after the other.
The cigarette burned,
down to the stub.  
Time had 
run 
out.

Hi Flagthrower, This makes me think of sitting an exam, well everything except the cigarette and church bells. I like the way you narrow the text with time, content wise the theme is clear but as a reader couldn't really pin anything down to engage with, except that sense of, Oh shit this isn't going happen and its my fault. On my second read I was left thinking this was someone doing an exam at uni near a church. Others may have a better insight than me. Best Keith