Free 

When I stepped out from the bus, 

I don’t feel any wind at first.  

It takes a second for me to notice 

There’s a car behind the bus, 

Telling me to go forward. 

I take this gesture and cross the road, 

And when I reach the other side, 

I feel free. 

Almost free. 

With this bag on my shoulders 

and the lunchbox weighing me down, 

I wasn’t free at all. 

But the wind fighting against me, 

Like I was heroic or something. 

And the cold air on my warm skin- 

Nothing could defeat that feeling. 

Well, it was as if there was no feeling. 

My backpack felt like feathers in tin foil wrapping, 

And my lunchbox felt like a leaf, 

Drifting downwards into endless paradise. 

The cold air didn’t feel cold, it felt normal. 

But I knew it was cold. 

My eyes weren’t flickering like they usually do, 

When the wind is trying to make my face contract, 

In the cold fall days, 

When it’s nearing the end of November. 

It was like the wind loved me. 

But still, I was not the definition of free. 

I wanted to be. 

I wanted to be the definition of free. 

So I threw my bag down, 

Swung my lunchbox to the side and into the grass, 

And ran all the way home. 

Which wasn’t very far, only a few yards. 

But I felt free. 

Not for long, only for a few seconds. 

When I reached, I was out of breath. 

I was smiling. 

I was cherishing the moment. 

I was alone. 

My definition of free is being alone, 

In a world where no one can see your fears, 

Your flaws, 

Or your false face. 

Where they can only see you, 

The you that is inside, 

The you that you want to be. 

How would this have looked to an outsider? 

Probably oddly abnormal. 

A young girl walking pleasantly home from the bus stop, 

And suddenly, BAM! 

Her expression turns mad, 

Her arms loosen from the heavy bag, 

And she’s running. 

Running for her life. 

Who’s chasing her? 

What’s behind her? 

Where in the world is she going? 

She’s in her garage now. She looks happy. 

She’s smiling. 

She’s laughing, actually. 

She’s inside now, she’s crazy. 

What was that?! 

The outsiders won’t understand. 

They won’t know why I was running. 

They won’t know who I am. 

And I’m grateful. 

I’m grateful for a lot. 

For education, 

For a family, 

For freedom, even if it’s only for a few seconds. 

I’m grateful I was free. 

I’m grateful every day.