silently screaming

the first time i said no

the first time i spoke my mind

was the first time i was burned alive

my flesh peeled off

my bones melted down

it only took a few tries

before i knew the meaning of survive

i lost my voice before i could fully speak

it was ripped straight out of my being

walking around without a soul

was more painful than you'll ever know

i carried that loss for years

unaware of the damage it wrecked

after 25 years

i had nothing left

i've mourned for the child without a voice

i've mourned for the adult lost in the void

but what next?

three decades i've been covered in ice

my voice box locked up iron tight

i've realized with time

comes light

comes knowledge

comes a darkless night

i just hope

gods how i hope

there's one day i'll bleed white