You are not defined
By what you share.
You are defined
By what you own.

Your bathroom tub’s
Inability to change
Temperature
Does not mean
You are always
Apathetic.

And the stains
On your bedroom ceiling
Do not mean
That as a being
You are scarred.

You are not defined
By what has made you.
You are defined
By what you have made yourself.

The dried paint
That looks like it is
Drizzling
Does not mean
Your tears are always a
Rainfall.

And the constant sound
Of your wooden floor
Creaking
Does not mean
That your insides are
Hollowing out.

You are the squeals
That come out
When the water
Is too frigid.

And you are the groans
That you make when you realize
You have to fix
The water spillage in the attic.

You are the posters
That you bought
To cover the flaws
In your painting technique.

And you are the caution
In your walk
As to not
Wake your family.

You are not your past.
You are your future.

You are not the girl
Who was molested as a child.
You are the woman
Who spoke up even when
She was terrified.

You are not the boy
Who lost his entire family.
You are the man
Who finally realized
That he liked himself better
When he was alone.

You are the virtue in your sins.
You are the beating of a broken drum;
So never think you are not
Ready for what is to come.