" why do you wear all those badges? "
My brother frowns at me.
" they'll take away all the colour on your hoodie. "

" I like them. " I reply bluntly.

' BUT THEY ARE COLOURFUL! AND I LOVE THEM! '
I want to yell.
But I hide my rage with a sigh

" you really should join the play!
You'd be amazing! "
My mother says.

" b-but I don't want to..."
I mumble and look down

" but you should! What about the plays you did as a child? "
My mother glares.

' BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEOPLE
ALL THE LINES
I CAN'T DO IT
I DON'T WANT TO BE THERE! '
I want to yell.
But I hide my rage with a shrug.

" you look like a *****. "
My father glares at my blue clothes
" you look like a mess. "

' I'M SORRY
BUT I CAN'T SEE IN THE DARK
YOU NEVER GAVE A BULB '
I want to glare.
But I hide my rage with silence.

" brush your hair! "

' I ALREADY HAVE! '

" clean your teeth! "

' I'VE DONE SO ! '

" have your hair loose! "

' I LIKE IT THAT WAY! '

" do that, do this! "

" your grades are failing! "

" get your act together! "

Can't they see they are the cause?
Can't they I'm sad.
I'm crying in my room.
I write sad songs and poems
In my room alone.
Alone.
Without them.
Without criticism.

I want to scream.
Shout or yell at them.
They always moan at me.
Only my friends understand
Like good friends do.
They don't.
I want to let out everything
Tell them how insecure I feel.

But I hide my rage
My sadness
My hatred for pity
My feeling of being an outcast
I hide it all with a fake smile.