once i lived where words were quiet and reminders were sweet; no shouts, no put-downs, never needed to retreat
once i lived where all was calm and words were gentle; and i held happiness in my palm, where every pain was accidental. once i lived side by side with my flaws and never saw them reflected, but now the world is on pause and all my words are deflected.
once i lived, once i lived, but now I merely am.














