(L)on(e)ly

As a child, she had many friends

and was surrounded with love and care.

So, the first thing she noticed as she grew up,

was that it was no longer there.

She looked at all the pictures,

of the memories of the past.

But it only later struck her,

how many relationships didn't last.

She blamed herself for much

and thought it was all her fault.

So, she closed herself off from people

and hid in her tiny vault.

She would pick up books and read,

about dragons, fairies and pirate crews.

But she failed to fade into fantasy,

Because she couldn't convince herself it was true.

With no invitations to anything fun,

and nothing to feel but lonely.

She felt like a fraud, a scared teenager,

to her, she was the one and only.

- Akshaya Pai

(Written for Escapril 2021)