When I was a little girl, teachers sent notes home saying I talked too much, that I was loud, that I had too much to share. That I had to dim my light.

To quieten me, you told me to wait, to observe others around me before taking a step. To reflect, to choose carefully what to share, when I knew in my heart of hearts what was always meant to be shared. So I dimmed. I took this and I started to slowly dim my light in relationships, afraid of my light and fire taking over.

The voices kept saying "Stay quiet. Don't shine so bright. Don't scare others away". Then a love came and fell in love with the light, until it became too bright. He then began to tell me to withhold from sharing any opinion, to say nothing and merely just hold and hear him.

And so that little girl kept weeping, holding it all in. Hearing nothing but her heart pounding like drums in her ears, fire turned out by her tears.

All that light burning inside with nowhere to escape. We forget that light cannot be detained and enchained, for its urge is to spread and touch everything it sustains.