One Last Time by the River

I was invisible once. Not quiet. Not boring. Just…

never chosen. <break time="0.6s" /> In high school, I was overweight. People were nice to me.

But no one wanted me. I loved talking. Laughing. Being around people.

But when it came to being someone’s first choice… That was never me. <break time="0.6s" /> I had friends.

They were kind. Too kind. I knew they stayed because they felt bad.

And somehow, that hurt more than being alone. So I stopped trying to belong.

And I started walking. <break time="0.6s" /> It was during COVID. Everyone wore masks. So hiding felt normal. I liked that.

With a mask on, I didn’t have to worry about my face. Or my body.