Do you ever feel
like it’s not worth talking
about the things that bother us
anymore?

Like you’re being responded to
before you’re being listened to?

Like everyone always falls
on the same set of answers
even when they know
only 2% of your story?

The lonely know the sentiments well:
-You’ll find someone someday.
-It’ll happen when you least expect.
-Just go over there and talk to her.
-Just be yourself.

Or maybe you have a different thing,
like anxiety or a phobia:
-Just squash the bug.
-Just flick the switch.
-Just do it.

Platitudes
uttered by those who
might be genuine in their intentions
except they’re coming to you
from the borders
of the giant jigsaw puzzle of life
where one flat, unwarped side
makes it easier
to find companionship.
To fit in.

But they can’t seem to comprehend
the people who don’t quite fit
into cute, square boxes.

If I *just* had to do a thing
that thing would *just* be done.
The fact that it’s not means
there’s a little more to the thing.
A wound that needs to be filled with care.
A story or trauma
that requires extra space.

I’m tired of people speaking to me
as if I was all smooth edges.
Every damn day I wish I was a border piece.
Instead, I’m floating out in the middle
with a lot of other lost souls
being shouted at from the sidelines.

Not that anything they shout is inherently wrong–
people figure their things out all the time,
but not everybody.
I cannot tell you why it works
for some and not others,
the cosmic lottery of chance.

Let’s stop talking in absolutes.
What is infrequent is not impossible
and what is frequent is never guaranteed.

But when it does work out,
because I choose to believe it one day will,
I can’t wait for him to be like
See! I told you it’ll happen when you least expect!
so I can look him in the eye and say
No.

Eventual success
does not make it
so they were right because,
as well-meant as the sentiments may be,
hearing them for the better part of a decade
strips them of their meaning.

Don’t tell me it gets better,
go out there and make it better
for someone,
in whatever way that looks like,

even if helping a person
with their things
is as simple as allowing them

to feel
seen
and heard.

Visible
and
listened to.

Connected
if still

apart.