Mercy came knocking once, a pale wanderer draped in dawn, with weary eyes and gentle hands, carrying no sword, only the burden of understanding. But the wicked knew not her face. Their hearts were citadels of stone, where compassion died unnamed and every wound became a weapon. They barred the gates. For mercy is a stranger in the hearts of the wicked. She walks their halls unseen, a ghost among shadows, whispering of forgiveness to ears that worship vengeance. They drink from poisoned wells and call bitterness wisdom. They sharpen grief into blades and wear cruelty like a crown. Where mercy offers a bridge, they build a wall. Where mercy kneels, they strike. And so she leaves quietly, taking her light with her, while darkness settles deeper into chambers already cold. The wicked do not fear mercy, they fear what mercy reveals: that beneath their iron masks, beneath their kingdoms of pride, beneath the ruins they call strength, there lives a trembling truth they dare not face. For merc...
My heart has been bleeding for so long it has learned how to hide the stain. It dresses itself in ordinary smiles, laughs when laughter is expected, nods at conversations, and walks through crowded streets as if nothing inside is falling apart. No one notices. How could they? The wound is hidden beneath practiced replies, beneath "I'm okay," beneath the mask I wear so often it sometimes feels more real than my face. Inside, there are storms. Quiet storms. The kind that do not shatter windows but slowly shake the foundations. The kind that keep a person awake at night, replaying old hurts, counting regrets, and wondering how someone can feel so lonely while surrounded by people. Fear sits beside me like a shadow. Fear of being judged. Fear of being misunderstood. Fear of becoming a burden. Fear of speaking the truth and watching people look away. So I remain silent. A prisoner whose chains are invisible. The world sees a functioning person. A capable person. A smiling pers...