it was like standing in the ocean with cement blocks on my feet as high tide rolled in. i felt it rise, lapping at my chin, my lips, my nose, until finally —

— it drowned me.

you drowned me.

you drowned me in my own insecurities without ever uttering a word.

i drowned myself in doubts and let them bear your name.

i cracked and i broke and then i shattered like a mirror, and every single tiny shard reflected some piece of you.