You told me I was too loud

so I shut that inside

You told me I moved too much

so I trapped my body inside

You told me I was too much

.

You told me I couldn’t

because my body wouldn’t be safe

and I stayed so closed inside me

I no longer existed

.

I cut pieces of myself off and

swallowed them whole

hiding them inside

my inner castle

only to come play when I was alone

and I lost myself

.

I no longer recognise the faces in the mirror

I no longer recognise who I became

a stranger to myself

.

He told me I could

he told me to try

and I did

.

with you gone

I slowly attach the pieces of me

stitched carefully and slowly

back onto my soul

.

scarred bruised

painfully

but they’re me

I recover

and slowly

I start to recognise myself

.

loud

moving

taking up space

.

and it’s ok

because that is me

.

I should take up all the space

because the world needs to see

I am here

I exist

I am worthwhile