We stand still

Motionless, they see us, but they don't know we're running a marathon

This is a race that we can't win, a triathlon to the death, but we keep going

They underestimate us

They think that we are weak because we don't shove our strength around don't shove people to the ground don't slowly drag you in until you drown

They don't know that we are drowning

We are drowning under the pressure that is us, from the power of motor thrusts, from people stamping all over us

We are drowning in silence, in our pain, trying so hard to attain this unrealistic standard of perfection

We are drowning as ice slowly forms, as our hearts turn cold, as we become a surface for you to walk on, to skate, to scratch our face

We are drowning as you swim too deep, thinking that you can step on me forever, like one day we won't break

We are drowning because I am drowning because you are drowning, because I am you

We are drowning because as I stare at my reflection I realize that imperfection is the key and that you will always be my best friend no one can see

We are drowning, even though no one sees, even though it will always be you and me, even though I am still standing on my knees, even though the nice old lady said, "you look fine to me" even though my father pleads, no. Please don't be that way

We are drowning, even though I tried to find an anchor, even as I evaporate into vapor, even as I thrust this pain to someone else, anyone else, the atmosphere

I forgot, that one day it would all condense, come down as heavy pelting rain, as hail stones who hit so hard they leave stains of regret, because they want you to know their pain

They don't know that I know their pain, I know their pain because I am their pain, because I was their pain, and for so long that I forgot

I forgot what it was to look at the sky and think sunshine, to look at the clouds and think the day is mine, to smell the rain and not think of pain

 

We stand still

Motionless, they see us, but they don't know that we change more than just with the seasons

There is a world beneath us breathing, a world beneath us teeming, brimming, overflowing

They don't know, as they splash through our water and take without asking and break without seeing that there is more under the surface

We remain, invisible, but to visible to us, and we know that we are the only ones each other can trust, and if that is sad so be it but damn, when they tried to hold us back with a dam didn't they know waterworks was still here

That we are still here

And one day we will burst, we will conquer the earth, we will take over

Or one day we'll scream, we'll finally let them see, what is under the surface

Or one day, we'll see, we'll sit here by these pretty oak trees, and put on a show

Smile

They'll never have to know