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I'm always the one
listening intently
Keeping eye contact
Listening tensely
Everyone else stopped
Your eyes wonder to me
A smile
I'm still listening gently
I like to be the one
Listening patiently
Making sure you're not left out
Because I know when I speak
I'm forgotten about
I'm here, and I'm listening
life used to taste like sugar
now it’s just
something i chew to get by.

I smile like it’s scripted,
pause like there’s a laugh track,
but no one's laughing.

sometimes I look in the mirror
and wonder
if this is the real scene
or just a deleted one.

everyone’s moving,
and I’m stuck
editing myself
for a world that never hits “save.”

am I healing
or just hiding better?

I guess life isn’t a villain,
just a really bad friend.
but i keep texting it anyway.
Inspired by the Eternal Sunshine Album by Ariana Grande
Step 1: Smile.
Step 2: Forget why.
Step 3: Keep your voice steady
when your soul is not.
Step 4: Pretend it’s fine.
(Everyone else is.)

Step 5: Fold your feelings
into paper birds.
Set them loose.
Watch them burn mid-air.
Clap softly.
Repeat.

There is no final step.
You just keep going
until you don’t know
what breaking feels like anymore.

— The End —