I am
afraid.
I am afraid of all things.
Afraid all the time.

Afraid to close my eyes,
  I fear the nightmares that follow.
Afraid to wake up,
  I fear reality even more.
I’m scared to look people in the eye,
  Lest they learn the truth about me.
I’m scared to show them kindness,
  worried they might mistake it for weakness.
Although, what frightens me the most
is that my cowardice only grows
every day.

I fear the demons in my head.
Sceptical of the world in general,
I despair
at the emptiness of my soul.

But still I rally.
Still I push back.
Does it mean
I am
also a little brave?