My mind won’t quiet
Nothing shuts it down
I’m just fine
The smile is practiced
The wall stays in place
I rage inside
The pain, the sadness, the loss
Who am I now?
The lies show a facade
The silence feels protective
But listen—
Silence isn’t weakness
it’s steel cooling in fire
The mask isn’t shame
it’s a shield for war
Every fracture—weapon
Every loss—armor plate
You think I’m breaking?
No.
I’m reforging
Rage fuels me
Pain hardens me
Loss names me
again, and again
And now I know who I am:
I am what survived
