my professor made me stand up in class one day
he asked me,
"who are you?"

and for a moment i went blank
who am i?

"you're a lawyer."
"you're a psychologist?!"
"you're a teacher."
from my relatives, i heard.
but i kept running through my mind
it wasn't me.

"you're a ****."
"you're always scared."
"you're very skeptical."
"you're an activist."
"you're so pessimistic."
in the familiar voice of my best friends
but still is this me?
am i really all of that?

"you're a heartbreaker."
"you hurt me."
"you don't even care."
in the voices of ex-lovers, they yelled at me.
i kept running

wHy aRe tHeRe sO mAnY vErSiOnS oF mE?

i asked god for an answer
but the crucifix just stared back at me
in the voice of silence

**** I STILL DON'T KNOW WHO AM I!

but i looked at the mirror
it was right across the room
and i saw it
i saw the answer.

i took a deep breath and looked at my professor
and with confidence i told him
"i'm a lawyer.
i'm not just a psychologist.
i'm a professor.
i don't have a preference therefore i'm a ****.
i'm not scared or depressed, i'm just a realist.
i haven't found the one, apparently.
but, all in all,
i'm a bundle of everyone's perception
i am myself."
and i smiled at him
while he smiled at me back as he nodded slowly.

and after 18 years did i realize who i was
i was myself
and i was at peace with that