Gentle Rebellion

The rebellion wasn’t loud.

No shaved head, no microphone,

no dramatic “watch me leave”

with a suitcase and a soundtrack.

﹁﹂

It was smaller than that

almost disappointing, honestly.

I slept in.

I ignored the group chat

That always made my chest tight.

﹁﹂

I ate breakfast slowly,

eggs and toast,

and didn’t answer anyone’s demands

like I owed them my morning.

﹁﹂

I said no to a favor

I would’ve hated doing.

My hands shook a little.

I waited for lightning.

﹁﹂

Nothing happened.

The sky stayed where it was.

The world kept spinning

with rude normalcy.

﹁﹂

I wore what I wanted,

not what would keep me “safe.”

I laughed too loudly in public

and didn’t apologize.

﹁﹂

I unfollowed the people

who treated me like a trend.

I muted the voice in my head

that called this selfish.

﹁﹂

Later, I cried in the bathroom

for no clear reason

Maybe relief has to leak out somewhere.

﹁﹂

Choosing myself felt like stepping

onto a bridge

I’d been told would collapse.

﹁﹂

But it held.

It held.

And I’m still learning

How to walk on solid ground

without rushing.