people called me quiet so often

my name is alayna,

but i used to get called quiet so often

that i may as well have been christened

inaudible at birth.

there was a time in space

where i considered legally changing my name,

but the words they used to describe me didn’t fit

because they were out of place.

i was born with a hushed whisper-like voice,

and i was painted as though i never spoke,

but that’s simply not the case.

it’s not that

i never tried talking to anyone.

it’s just that

no one took the time to listen,

so i rescinded my efforts and decided

to start keeping all of my thoughts

to myself instead.

☽