Voicemails to Myself

“Hey… it’s me. Just checkin’ in. I know you don’t like talkin’ back, but… I’m listenin’ if you ever feel like sayin’ somethin’.”

⸻

Some nights I talk like somebody’s there,

But it’s just me and the echo in air.

Left messages I’ll never replay,

Little reminders that I’m tryin’ to stay.

I don’t know who I am half the time,

Just reflections and verses and lies.

But I tell myself, “You made it this far,”

Even when I feel shattered in parts.

⸻

These are voicemails to myself,

Little calls I never make.

Thoughts I box up on a shelf,

Just to make it through the ache.

I don’t answer like I used to,

But I still hope I’m heard.

Even if no one hits me back,

I’ll keep leavin’ myself these words.

⸻

“Don’t forget to breathe,”

“Don’t fall for ease,”

“Don’t give that pain a lease —

It don’t get to own your peace.”

Yeah, I say that in my head,

When I’m drownin’ in the bed.

When anxiety got me locked up

And my phone’s full of left-on-read.

⸻

“Hey Kal… you still here?

You still fightin’? Still pushin’ past fear?

I know it’s hard. I know you tired.

But even fire needs dark to rise.”

⸻

These are voicemails to myself,

Little calls I never make.

Thoughts I box up on a shelf,

Just to make it through the ache.

Even if I sound broken,

Even if the line goes dead…

At least I showed up for me —

With every word I never said.

⸻

“I love you. Don’t hang up on yourself.”