Unspoken words of discomfort and regret fill this home.
Twenty-two years of going through the motions:
"Hello" "See you later" "Check in" "I love you too"
The last one to arrive.
The first one to leave, the first one to flee.
Why don't they understand?
After all, they are the ones who've trained me.

"Be the person you aspire to be, don't dream someone else's dream."
They left out partial thoughts "but first, ask us before you achieve."

A house full of people striving to be so close, yet our eyes appear to be distant.
We feel the need to live the life they chose.
We are all afraid of leaving home.
We are all afraid of breaking tradition.
We are all afraid of being different.
But not me. I've never even dared to be afraid to dream.

Now off on my own I'll be, like a bird first discovering it's wings.
I'll be buried among bills, burned bridges, and unwashed dishes.
But always remembering what I've learned from those in distance.
I don't know when I will be back, but when I do it'll be for me.