The way I am

I know no other way to be
all my life I've known that what feels right to me is
a step out of line with the majority

A line that scared me
I'd kept tight
lined up
one foot in front of the other

If only I could

If only I could
move the way they do
talk that way
speak that way
look
feel that way

I stopped
following that line
when
I could no longer live with the pain

A pain that could not
would not
go away

________________________

I've been out as a lesbian for more than 25 years and have only recently started writing about my coming out process.