On Coming Out

by Ashley Niedzwiecki

Why can’t I just say the words?

The

Shattering hopes and dreams and False Truths

Words,

The

Break their hearts but set me free

Words,

The

Can’t keep hiding in plain sight

Words,

The

Everyone knows but no one wants to say it out loud

Words,

The words I ache to say.

I’m forced myself to

Whisper

When all I want to do is scream

And scream,

And scream,

And scream.

Why can’t I say those words?

Because the only thing that scares me more

Than saying

Those words

Is not knowing

What comes next.