In the cocoon of my heart, a secret I did keep,
A truth so profound, buried so deep.
Whispers of shadows, dancing in my mind,
The fear of judgment, of being unkind.
In the mirror’s reflection, I sought my face,
Hoping my truth would find its own space.
Would the world see me, or just the mask I wear?
Would they understand, or simply stop and stare?
To my family, the anchor of my soul,
Would they embrace or let the silence take its toll?
To my friends, who\'ve laughed and cried by my side,
Would they still stand close or choose to hide?
The heartbeat\'s rhythm, a drumbeat of dread,
Every scenario, played and replayed in my head.
But a voice from within began to rise,
Whispering words of love, to my surprise.
\"I am more than a label, more than a name,
My essence, my spirit, forever the same.\"
To live in my truth, and let my heart soar,
I choose to step out, and silence the fears of yore.
For in the end, it’s love that will tell,
And in its embrace, my fears will quell.
So here I am, world, in radiant array,
A proud young girl, who is fearlessly gay.
© Susie Stiles-Wolf