My voice is hoarse with silent shouts,
fists tight and lips tighter;
They can stand smiling but not understand.

They react (or barely act) with
jealousy or suspicion, awe or a wandering eye -
the stories tire of being tossed about
from Apathy's embrace to Ignorance.

I felt more than I ever felt;
I loved stronger, walked longer,
I drank deep and breathed deeper.
I became an unfamiliar familiar same.

I found my Me.

I cannot tell the tale without making it sound
so very hollow,
when there, there was where
I was full of the richness of life,
and here is just the shadow, the hesitance,
the doubt of whether my moments were true.