Youth

I grew up as a prisoner,
trapped in my own mind,​
bars of my own making,
refusing my departure,
denying my rights,
no freedom,
no love,
no life,
no breathe,
my affection to break my soul,
my life as captive audience,
only watching,
never participating,
not even a judge to world around me.
The line that is drawn,
in tears of my own,
sweat to keep my window,
fear to keep me hidden,
a life I could not live,
I was trapped,
I was afraid,
I was a child,
plagued by a family I could not understand,
lost in a world where I could not be,
a place I could not see,
a life I was afraid of.
No longer,
I have a place,
by those who hold me up,
I am surrounded by those who care,
by those who breathe my air,
smile, my smile,
hold my hand,
see me,
not a burden,
not a plague, 
not a lost child,
but a sad child.
A girl who was broken,
who felt broken,
but is now held,
hoping to have the strength,
to one day stand alone,
but to never really really have to.