Stronger

Many people say that life is like a rollercoaster,
But mine felt like an underground train ride.
No, nobody in my family died,
Nor did I experience any tragedy or misfortune.

But I do cry
Lots and lots of times
Because of what life has given me.

At the age of five, I wore glasses
And my classmates made fun of me.
At the age of ten, I was called a man
Because I didn’t look feminine enough.
At the age of thirteen, I was told to kill myself
By my own family member.

But I didn’t.
I continued to live.
And I continued to experience what life has given me.

At the age of seventeen, I had my first heartbreak
And I remained shattered for months.
At the age of eighteen, I could not fit in with my university
And had to withdraw from it.

Now, at the age of nineteen, I was told that I was a detriment to my family
And that I was useless.

I have been in this underground train ride for nineteen years
With people giving me dirty looks
And pointing,
Laughing,
And hating me.

Yet, despite that I was hurt
Sometimes by the people I love,
I looked at them in the eyes,
Lifted myself from my seat,
And got off at the next train station.

I walk with my chin up, my head high,
And my heels clicking against the pavement.
As I rise toward ground level,
I feel enlightened,
Spiritually lifted,
Because now that I am no longer in that train,
I can finally breathe
And take what life has to give me.