I wear a smile, a mask to shield my soul,
From the demons that whisper in the night's embrace,
Each dawn brings whispered reassurances,
Yet trials and tribulations are the forge of wisdom.
Trust, a precious currency, earned in deeds,
Not freely given, but weighed with care,
Promises shattered, tales left untold,
In my vulnerability, my heart exposed, my greatest flaw.
Love, a flame unyielding, burns within,
Fueled by the fire of determination,
This battle, not against you, nor the world,
But against the shadows that haunt within.
I climb, each step a struggle, toward the summit,
Where clarity and peace await,
It is not a contest of me versus you,
But of me against the echoes of doubt and fear.
My heart on my sleeve, a testament to courage,
To love deeply despite the scars,
For in vulnerability lies strength,
And in forgiveness, liberation from self-imposed chains.
This journey, fraught with valleys and peaks,
Teaches lessons written in the language of resilience,
Where pain carves paths to understanding,
And each stumble is a step toward growth.
So, as I face myself in this mirrored arena,
Know that the battle is not in vain,
For in confronting my own shadows,
I find the strength to embrace the light within.