Maybe

Maybe in some alternate universe
I would be the girl who raised her hand
for a question,
a comment,
or a cleverly worded witicism.
Maybe I would share my story
with the class,
a stranger,
or my best friend.
Maybe I could be honest about my feelings
to the boy I like,
to anyone,
or to myself.
But instead I am shy.
Quiet.
Meek.
Introverted.
Seemingly disinterested.
Disconnected.
All this bravado,
when no one asked me to be brave,
least of all myself.
I want my eyes to sparkle as I speak,
not roll as I listen.
I want you to hang on my words
but you find it even harder to find them than I do.
Maybe, just maybe
if I could speak up,
I could make the world listen.