In the halls of learning, whispers fill the air,
“Be the best, fit the mold, show you care.”
Grades like shadows loom heavy and cold,
A race for approval where dreams are sold.
I’m walking through the noise, trying to breathe,
Holding all the rules they want me to believe.
And every step I take, I feel it in my chest,
Trying to keep up, trying to look my best,
But the walls close in when the lights burn bright,
And I’m praying for a place to put this weight tonight.
At home, the echoes of “Why can’t you try?”
A tapestry woven with expectations high.
"Look how they’re thriving, why can’t you be?"
Each word a reminder of who I should be.
Say it again, let it cut right through,
I’m doing all I can—what else can I do?
Friends in their circles, laughter on cue,
Yet behind every smile, there’s a struggle so true.
To fit in, to shine, to never fall short,
In this endless game, I’m losing the sport.
I nod and I grin like I’m part of the scene,
But I’m fading out quiet in-between.
I chase that “enough,” but it won’t stay still,
Like a moving line on an uphill hill,
And I’m scared if I stop, I’ll disappear,
So I keep on running with the ache right here.
At home, the echoes of “Why can’t you try?”
A tapestry woven with expectations high.
"Look how they’re thriving, why can’t you be?"
Each word a reminder of who I should be.
Say it again, let it cut right through,
I’m doing all I can—what else can I do?
The mirror reflects not just my face,
But all of the standards I’m forced to embrace.
“Be perfect, be normal,” the world seems to roar,
But inside, I’m crumbling, my spirit feels sore.
I paint on a smile, I tighten the seams,
Trying to survive inside everyone’s dreams.
Each day a tightrope, fragile and thin,
Hiding the cracks where the darkness creeps in.
Longing for quiet, to escape this charade,
But the weight of their hopes feels like a blade.
In the silence, the pressure grips tight,
Thoughts spiral downward, consumed by the night.
A whisper of doubt that won’t let me be,
As dreams fade to shadows, drowning in the sea.
For many, the struggle is heavy and deep,
Where laughter is fleeting, and joy feels like sleep.
A cycle unbroken, where hope slips away,
Lost in the shadows, too weary to stay.
In a world full of whispers that never relent,
We’re left to navigate this broken descent.
And in this cruel dance of relentless demand,
So many fall silent, unable to stand.
At home, the echoes of “Why can’t you try?”
A tapestry woven with expectations high.
"Look how they’re thriving, why can’t you be?"
Each word a reminder of who I should be.
At home, the echoes of “Why can’t you try?”
A tapestry woven with expectations high.
"Look how they’re thriving, why can’t you be?"
Each word a reminder of who I should be.
