The Fragile Leaf

 written by: Ally Bernales

In the quiet corners of her mind,
She stands, a fragile leaf in the wind,
Tossed by whispers, by glances cold,
Her heart a story yet to be told.

The world outside, a mirror cracked,
Reflecting truths she can't take back,
Each word, a pebble in her soul,
Each stare, a shadow taking its toll.

She walks through life in hesitant steps,
A river pulled in endless depths,
Caught between who she wants to be
And who they say she’s meant to see.

She dreams of flying, of being free,
A bird unchained from her own sea,
But every gust of wind that blows
Tells her who to be and where to go.

Her thoughts like clouds that scatter fast,
One moment clear, the next a blast,
She wishes for a quiet space
Where judgments end, and she can embrace.

But how to find the courage, how to flee
From the mirror that won’t let her be?
She stands, unsure, lost in the sound—
Her voice, her choice, forever drowned.

Yet still she hopes, though it's hard to see,
That one day she’ll set herself free.
For deep within, there's a spark that stays,
Waiting for the dawn of braver days.

 image from: https://shorturl.at/c1sR9