The Cage

Fear is a cage

an invisible cage, with invisible bars.

The bars get strength from your mind

keeping you in with dark, twisted visions of the outside.

These visions are false

These visions are true

These visions are what you make of them

These visions are yours, and yours alone.

You won't know what lives outside the cage

What goes on beyond the bars of your mind

Without stepping out to see for yourself.

I know. I have lived in fear.

I lived in the cage.

Fear of boredom, of wasting my life.

Fear of guilt, fear of being hurt.

Fear of my own thoughts sometimes.

I try to face my fears -

Sometimes I win

Sometimes I lose

But I try.

The bars weaken now.

I can feel it,

The exhilaration of something just around the bend,

Something scary, and exciting.

I run to catch it

Will it hurt?

Will it feel good?

Pain or pleasure?

Either way, it is worth the attempt,

Worth the experience.