To enjoy being alone
means to enjoy yourself.
But how can I?

Twenty one years
of being told
who I am—
and who I am not—
has left me unsure
who I even am

I was taught to perform.
First: read the room.
Then: act.

But when there is not room
to read—
how do you act?

Alone in your room at night—
when no one is watching,
who are you?
who is left?

When there is nothing left to become,
who have you been this whole time?

If you strip everything away,
is there still a you?

When the performance ends,
Is everyone still clapping?
Or were you in the audience too?

-June 20th 2025