Hiding

I’m 26 now,

But sometimes I am still that 15 year old girl,

Who couldn’t breathe at the thought,

Of having to stand up in front of class

With every face turned towards me.

They’d listen politely,

Like they were taught to do.

But none of them would really hear me,

Or see me properly,

Because I’m hiding behind a mask

I’ve been perfecting for you all.

So I may be 26 now,

But that mask still gets used sometimes.

Because people still don’t really hear me,

And they can say it’s because I don’t have experience,

And I’ll say it’s because I’m a woman.

And sometimes that might be true.

But maybe they are not to blame,

Maybe it’s just because I became too good at hiding,

And not good enough at just being me.