i feel like i'm suffocating
a saltwater fish in fresh water
stuck in the wrong body
at the wrong time
in the wrong life
i’m wrong
i can feel it
in the way she looks at me
condescends me
in the way he ignores me
is disgusted by me
we all know why the air
hangs more tense
than a snagged fishing line
we understand the implications
but we keep it to ourselves
in silence we agreed to forget
that a mother’s love is not unconditional