your back aches because you carry the world on your shoulders

your face rubbed black with the make up you forgot was there

your nails chipped as you grasped your horrors in your bare hands

your throat tight with the words held back for fear of rejection

your heart rate fluctuating as you struggle to remain constant

your ears echoing with the words of past demons trying to resurface

your eyes dim, but not dark, for the world has not broken you yet