i’m fine.

I'm fine.
Aside from the sleepless nights,
anxiety,
a constant state of depression—

I'm fine.
It’s not just a feeling; it’s like a panic attack.
I can’t even breathe—
like a panic attack.

I'm fine.
Life is passing me by.
You see the joy on my face, but what you see
is not what’s inside.

So even if you knew,
you’d still ask me, “Are you okay?”

Yes, I’m fine.

In the shadows, I'm a silent scream,
a façade of strength, a broken dream.

Behind the smile, a river of tears,
a dance with shadows, confronting fears.

I'm fine, but the world is gray,
painted in hues of disarray.

The laughter—a mask worn so well—
concealing the secrets I’ll never tell.

Each step forward, an internal war,
battling shadows forevermore.

Yet when you ask, “Are you okay?”
I’ll smile and say, “Yes, I’m okay.”

In the silence, I find my way,
navigating the night to greet the day.

"I'm fine"—a mantra, a whispered lie,
hiding the storms that rage inside.

But within the chaos, a flicker of light—
a journey to heal, to make things right.

So even in the midst of the disarray,
I'll keep saying, “Yes, I’m okay.”

November 2018