Fitting In, Breaking Out

I had held it close, with no knowledge of doing so

The most intimate crevices of my heart, invaded

With the chastisement, judgment, ridicule

Of those around me, slowly decomposing my being

Until I was just, “one of them”

So I found it, flushed it out, with the knowledge that:

Chastisement is ugly,

Judgment, unwarranted

And ridicule, a mere reflection of jealousy

I burst out, out of the dark familiarity and security

Into that beautiful tomorrow,

Confident that no one could imitate the

Dear, unique, unexpected me