Creative Section 

Echoes in the Silence 

 

Trigger Warning: This poem discusses themes of suicide, bullying, and deep emotional pain. It may be distressing for some readers, especially those who have experienced similar struggles. Please read with care, and if you find yourself affected, consider reaching out to a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional.

 

The poem delves into the silent torment faced by a young teenager, particularly one who is queer, disabled, or otherwise marginalized. It's a raw and heartfelt expression of the pain and isolation that can come from relentless bullying and societal rejection. The poem is a voice from the beyond, where the child who has taken their own life speaks out, revealing the unbearable weight of their experiences. It’s about the desperate need to be seen, loved, and understood, and the tragic consequences when these basic human needs go unmet. Through this piece, I wanted to give a voice to those who are often silenced, to shed light on the hidden battles that too many young people face, and to urge readers to listen, care, and act before it’s too late.

 

I wasn’t always this quiet, you know,

Once had a voice that sang in the flow,

But they told me to hush, to shrink, to hide,

And so I did, with each tear I cried.

The world wasn't built for kids like me,

With bodies too big, or hearts too free,

Or legs that didn’t run as fast,

Or love that didn’t fit the cast.

They pointed, they laughed, they tore me apart,

Till the seams of my soul unraveled, a start,

Of nights too long, of thoughts too deep,

Of promises broken, of dreams asleep.

I looked in the mirror, searching for truth,

But all I saw was their twisted proof,

That I wasn’t enough, that I wasn’t right,

So I turned off the switch, extinguished the light.

And now, in the quiet, where no one can hear,

I scream out the pain, I scream out the fear,

Of a world that’s cruel, of hearts that don’t see,

The child inside who just wanted to be.

To be seen, to be loved, to be held close,

Not judged, not pushed, not treated as gross,

But those were the dreams that slipped through

my hands,

Like sand in the hourglass, counting demands.

But hear me now, as I fade away,

This wasn’t a choice, it wasn’t my way,

But the walls were too high, the voices too loud,

And I couldn’t break free, I wasn’t allowed.

So I leave you this echo, this whisper, this cry,

Of a soul that was lost, of a question, why?

Why couldn’t I stay, why couldn’t I breathe,

In a world that’s too harsh, in a life I

couldn’t weave?

And as you stand in the light of the day,

Remember the ones who faded away,

Not by choice, not by will, but by the

hands of time,

By the weight of a world that made them mime.

But know this, as I drift into the night,

I was more than their words, more than

their spite,

And though I’m gone, my echo remains,

In the hearts that break, in the tears

that stain.

So if you’re listening, if you can hear,

Hold on to those who tremble in fear,

And maybe one day, you’ll see the light,

In the eyes of a child who fought the fight.

But for now, in the silence, I rest my case,

A voice once strong, now lost in space,

But I leave you with this, a final refrain,

Listen to the whispers of those in pain.

I wasn’t always this quiet, you know,

Once had a voice that sang in the flow,

But they told me to hush, to shrink, to hide,

And so I did, till I silently died.

​

Poem by Arshan.