Sinking to the bottom of a freezing green abyss,

Swimming blindly to find the top.

Constant pressure bursts my lungs

Suffocating from the outside in. 

Alone in the overwhelming darkness

Words drag me further down

Like cinderblocks tied to my ankles.

“You need to do better.” 

I’ve drowned.

The air keeps getting thinner and it gets harder to breathe,

But I still can’t manage to reach their peak.

Turbulent winds wear me down

With expectations higher than I can climb.

The top limit is where success lies.

And with criticism that scorches like the sun,

My aspirations are apathetically ripped away.

“You can’t be a failure.”

I’ve fallen to the ground.

While giving up everything to be what they wanted

I’ve secretly planned an escape.

Somewhere weightless and calm

Where I can breathe for myself.

I finally blasted out of this world, 

Away from the burden of their preceded notions.

Nothing but stars and inky darkness.

“You’re finally free.”

I’m finally free.