she stood // Naina Purushothaman

It all started when she was 12
when her mind was too young to know
and too old to be protected
she started her journey standing up
fueled by the dreams she didn’t realize were impossible
and the promises she didn’t realize were empty 

suddenly she was no longer untouched
when a lick of fire touched her bare skin
she felt the pain in her bones
In her blood
she tried to stay standing but the cost was too high
she dropped to her knees
the flames rendering her thoughtless
speechless
acting only on instinct she stayed curled up
until the flames were put out
by what she wasn’t sure 

she lifted her head and felt a burning desire to rip off the burned skin
to paint a new picture of herself with a fresh set of color
she slowly stood
careful of fake smiles and meaningless declarations of love
steering clear of those who make her hands shake with hate or passion
oh yes she stood
she looked down and saw fire but felt no pain
she only felt a resolve
and heard the voices of her own blood telling her to never kneel again 

What good is your soul when you keep it under lock and key?
What good is your mind when it is not given the freedom think without retribution?
What good are the wings of your heart if you do not allow them to spread?

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