it's all about balance
people who appear neutral outside
seem to be neutral inside
maybe that's why i'm so sad
while acting so happy

it's truly crazy
how alone i feel
surrounded by monsters
wearing human masks

bright red mouths
jeering at me from my own body
they stay
laughing
i only have a bandaid to cover them

tell me to stop getting distracted
because it's so easy for you to say that
tell me to stop binge eating
because it's so easy for you to say that
tell me to stop overthinking things
because it's so easy for you to say that
tell me to stop getting scared
because it's so easy for you to say that
it's like you think i want to be like this
if i could stop then i would
it's harder than it seems
when i think about the word stop
the only think i can think about it to stop living

middle name

something some people flaunt
they say it within their introduction

something some people admit
a half-hidden secret

something some people hide
deny, refuse, reject

something some people lack
so they never think about it

anxiety is my middle name

some words leave a bitter taste

they taste like strong, lingering coffee
at first pleasant, but eventually unbearable

they taste like inhaled cigarette smoke
something never forgotten
but a significant part of childhood

they taste like hiraeth
longing for a life from once before
one without a missing piece

father is a bitter word