Whispers tried to chain me.
You’ll never make it.
You’re too small.
Give up now.

Then
a soft voice broke through the noise: Pay attention.
 

I stepped forward.

Inhale. Exhale. Rise again.

The quiet insistence of truth pulled me
past trembling doubts,
over every metaphorical banana peel life left in my path.

 “I follow truth!”

 “I follow truth!”

I move with guidance.
I stand with purpose.
I am more than the fear that tried to cage me.

And yes…
sometimes I glide past the fear with a little extra flair,
just to remind it I’m unstoppable.