Seashells

I walk along the quiet beach, Soft, white sand beneath my toes. My mind is empty, void of thought Except of seashells on the ground. I kneel down to pick one up, Then continue on my way Tracing tiny patterns mindlessly In the twisted, spiraled shell. Curious, I hold it to my ear And hear the ocean whisper My thoughts echoed perfectly– Shallow, empty thoughts of nothing. At once, I take a look inside The seashell in my hand. Surprised when I find nothing more Than an empty void of space. Suddenly, my heart awakens And betrays my darkest fears. The hate and hurt that I once hid Gave way to nothingness. I’d tried and tried my hardest To cover up the heartbreak, I put on a show for everyone And even fooled myself. But in the process, I lost something That meant so much to me. I traded pain for emptiness And faked a hollow smile. One deep breath, then take a look At the shell clenched in my hand Where once there lived an animal, And where once I kept my heart. I toss the shell into the sea, Inside me something shatters; The shell that hid my broken heart Has freed it once again.