In another life

I must have been a turtle

Because I like to hide

Disappear

Inside

This shell of mine

You can't see it because

You don't know what you're looking for

About me they say I'm painfully shy

That's not true-

Mostly I'm scared.

To face the world alone because I must

There is no one to fight my battles but me

No one to see my scars but me

No one to cry my tears but me

No one to dry my tears but...me.

So, I was not eager to poke my head out of my shell and cause the world to notice me

And then I realized, I don't have a choice.

I must become.

The first thing I realized after I shed my shell is

The sun

It shines brightly

Warms me

Gives me hope that maybe the world is not as cruel as it can seem

Yes.

The sun.

It feels good.