the darkest of times, the darkest of thoughts

gray, empty
but i let the words grow
and my heart, i let show
but with separation came
the anxiety, the pain, the journey
within confinement.
i wasn't ever my own
and my many faces had me so alone,
i thought i might drown.
it started before i even knew what puberty meant:
at twelve, i wrote my first lines.
now, at twenty, i want you to read my warning signs.

Self-published in January of 2022, Megan Diedericks' debut poetry collection (which encapsulates her journey with heartache, loss, grief, and self-perception) is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book!