There has been a shift in me
The fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, optimistic, free person has run away
She is hiding and I can’t seem to find her
Maybe she will come out when we are all free once more

The tectonic plates of my soul have moved
Leaving my heart with a new film of crust over it
The crust of lost freedom, chaos, and bomb squads

I want to reopen the fault line
Let light shine through
So maybe I can find her, me in the darkness

She saw the writing on the wall
The words left their mark
She does not belong here
With Security Guards, Plastic Bags, IDs, Policemen, Checkpoints

The new me glides through the hallways
Disconnected
Uninspired
Sad

There has been a shift in me
But I will not let a black marker taint my soul
I will always search for my light
Even if I have to go to the center of my Earth