Breathe in

Breathe out

Calm breaths still my body, iron out my tone

I strip myself down

Shrugging off my coat of raw edged rage

The picture of suburban safeness

Legs together, arms by my side

Small as possible

Non threatening

Meek

Words rush towards me

Pummeling me

I brace under the unbearable weight of unasked for advice

A thin drop of anguish catches in my eyelashes

I adjust my mask tighten

My strings

Taut

Walk away on shaky legs

Red bruises to purple blooms

Mask askew slides down

Head up, shoulder slumped, tender

Victory in still standing

upright