The voice twists through my ears it tells me I am not good enough But no one else can hear it

It says everything is my fault and is squeezes my brain tight But no one else can feel it

It says Everyone hates me And it lives behind my eyes bug no one else can haar ut

It says I am gonna die And it makes me cry But no one else can hear it

It tells me I am ugly Screams it really How can you not hear it?

I lay here in darkness alone in the night, Fear for my blanket, my eyes open wide.

Hush now there, don’t despair as you sleep. I’m here, right beside you, watching you breathe

I tighten my grip on the fear that surrounds me Where is the voice that whispers so loudly

Hush, now there, I’m here in the shadow. Give me your fears, as I lay down beside you.

My body is frozen. Why can’t I escape? The voice, it controls me, like a venomous snake.

Hush now there, I’m here right beside you, Controlling your mind and keeping you lied to.

I want to escape! To unveil the darkness, but the voice keeps me trapped, shy and voiceless.

Hush now there, go to sleep , just breathe I’m right here inside you, too quiet to see

I’m deafened by silence as the voice slips away My tortured soul quieted, for another day

Je ne suis pas belle. [I am not beautiful.]

The mirror isn’t enough for me. The makeup doesn’t make it better. They say I’m pretty; I don’t agree, I’m just a name, with distorted letters.

_Je ne suis pas. _ [I am not.]

My doubt could swallow me whole, with its jaws snapping my neck, and its words burning, yet ice cold. It keeps you far worse than in check.

_Je ne suis pas belle, _ [I am not beautiful,] je ne le serai jamais. [I never will be.]

Makeup was my savior, coloring my face, covering up just how messed up I am. It covered up my nature of a disgrace, my nature of playing victim, playing lamb.

_Je ne suis pas belle, _ [I am not beautiful,] peu importe combien [no matter how much] je voulais être. [I wanted to be.]

I’m not the pretty image in the mirror, not the neat clothes on my body. The person I am, to me, is not any clearer. I know who I’m not, they scream at me.

Je suis faux. [I am fake.] Je ne suis pas belle. [I am not beautiful.]

I have hobbies people like, the pretty ones. Violin and writing, calligraphy and French. I feel like I’m an athlete, baggage worth tons, like I’m the greatest, but I got benched.

Mais je ne suis pas génial. [But I am not great.]

I’ve always liked music, songs in my ears, but the chanteuse in my head hurts because she’s screaming all my fears, like I can’t feel the pain, or hear the alerts.

Je ne suis pas belle. [I am not beautiful.]

The rhythm I once liked so much, still rings in the hollow between my ears. It seems my love for it is now out of touch, because it was the reason I am now in tears.

Je n'aime plus cette chanson. [I don’t like this song anymore.]

(Loosely fits the prompt)

Get out of my head I say I scream Or maybe the words We’re just part of the dream Maybe the school of ash Was real And my whole life isn’t. Maybe I’ll- NO. I am awake. I AM AWAKE. I am awake I am awake i am awake i am awake am awake am awake awake awake awake awake . . . GET OUT OF MY HEAD

In the silence of the night, it whispers, A melody that twists and lingers, "Abandon the world of blinding light, And step into the realm of endless night.

The shadows beckon, they call your name, They promise you freedom, but only bring pain. They say in their depths, you’ll finally see, The beauty of what you're meant to be.

The shadows sing so beautifully ‘’ You can be free, just follow me, To a place where darkness reigns supreme, And you can finally live your dream.

Let the night consume your soul, For only my power can make you whole. Follow me down, beneath the surface, In the depths of the shadows, you’ll find your purpose.

Let the darkness guide your way, To where you belong, without delay, Heed my words, and come with me, Into the darkness, where you'll be free.

Come closer now," it softly croons, In sinister tones, like ghostly tunes, Its words, a lure, both sweet and dire, A call to feed the hidden fire.

"Embrace the shadows, let them sway, In their depths, is where you’ll stay. “But underneath the velvet veil, Lies a truth that's dark and pale.

"Despite the beautiful song it sings, Trust not the darkness, for it deceives. Its song, a spell, with twisted might, Draws innocent souls into the night.

With every note, it weaves its spell, A tale of darkness, where it dwells, And those who listen, or sing along, Will forever be lost to its sinister song.

I awaken from my bed, Melodic singing in my head. “Darling wont you come with me, Ill make you feel truly free.” Sickening shivers down my spine, Tell myself that I’ll be fine. “Darling I know that you can hear, There is no need for you to fear.” And despite my reluctant heart, I feel the need to play the part. Every word it draws me closer, To my anonymous composer. His voice growing louder still.

“Darling how I love you so, Its time for me to take you home,” As I take every stair in stride, A sense of calm enters my mind. On the roof I see his face, With shining eyes he moved with grace. “Darling come now, take my hand, Ill take you to a better land…” My mind made up, It was already done, My hand in his couldnt be undone. I tried to pull, I tried to fight, I pulled at him with all my might.

“Dont go now, youre much too late, Come here and accept your fate” His hold on me grows tighter still, Leaving behind an eerie thrill; That I cannot explain. All I know is with every touch, He takes away my pain. “Come now Darling, be polite… This fatal flaw you cant rewrite..” And in spite of his chilling tone, When I see his smile it feels like home. My vision fading, growing dark, Us both dissappearing with a spark.

A silent blow of the wind

Turned to thunderous roars in the night

“Help” it says

“Don’t” it warns

It brings a scare

Though I don’t care

It tells the future

And that I value

My fear is nearly gone

When the worst hasn’t been said

“You’ll die” it states

No warning

No reason

The roars are gone

Not even a whisper now

The silent night mirrors my fear

“It is never wrong” I whisper in it’s place

“It sealed my fate” I say to the world I left unwillingly

There it was. Lilting through The air, down the Alleyway. The sound was so Subtle, the faintest reverberating echo.

There I was. Frozen on the sidewalk, Captive between Two buildings, held by the silence Between when it was heard And when I would hear it, growing as it drew closer.

I could just make Out the words and The melody they carried, A feather landing softly On my ears.

The words came again: “You are not alone, For I am always watching.”

There’s words on the walls. Voices inside the structure. Handprints on the windows. Words splayed on the mirror. Whispers drift, mocking me.

I just want it to be over. I’m tired of cleaning up all the pools of blood… It covers my hands…

My own crimson leaks from my mouth. I blink it out of my eyes and smile, happy. The voices grow, running.

“Don’t be afraid,” they plead. “Be very afraid,” I growl, eyes flitting. Be terrifyingly afraid, darling.

Centipede smiles spread across my skin. Flesh crawler, dream wearer, I am. Unwelcome in a mess of new thoughts. Bleeding sentiment, behind closed walls. The future clogs up inside my pours. As it's already stale and greatly abhorred. A shaking fear of a wanted distraction; I close my ghost off with my hearts retraction. My wielded words, are weapons of sorrow; so follow me through to the hollow. Where masked faces never trust in those small moments of sway... when daydream nights turn into bedlam days...

The monsters sing, only in my head. But am I one of them, or one of the dead?

-HMG