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Would You Like to Share Your Fear?
Talk to me, tell me your fear
Talk to me about your fears
I asked the man I wed.
I don't have any, he says to me
Without any expression on his face.
Then days pass,
And I see him flinch when a lizard is close
Or get annoyed at bugs
Thinking that it's these little things.
Only for him to admit one day
Ramdomly
That "like everyone else"
He fears the loss of his remaining parent.
"But it's a valid fear," he says.
"It's normal".
And I agree.
Because I DO feel the same way.
But how can I tell him
That I have horrible anxiety
Because of my fear
How do I tell him
That, my parents, easily a decade older
Than his
Are slipping in front of my eyes
Every day.
How do I tell him
That I can never choose him
Over my parents
Even though we're married now
That I will forever be
Duty-bound to the parents
Until either me or them
Goes off first.
So I just smile
And tell him, "yeah, same"
And then have another nightmare
Of being alone,
Orphaned,
Displaced.
Oh, my paranoid heart,
Hush.
Things will happen when it will,
I remind myself.
One day, it'll be okay
Okay for you to be sad
Okay for you to grieve
But also okay
For you to continue on
And stay happy
Because isn't that what
All parents want for their child
In the end?
Maybe.
I wake up then.
Look over at my husband
Sleeping peacefully
And check if he's still breathing.
He is.
Okay, back to sleep.
About the Creator
Manisha Dhalani
Content writer and marketer helping solopreneurs achieve organic growth. Loves reading, eating cake, and having insightful conversations.
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Comments (9)
This poem beautifully captures the complexity of hidden fears and the silent struggles we endure. Your words resonate deeply. Thank you for sharing.
This is fantastic, I love how you lay the background down.
I have anxiety disorder. I can understand how difficult it can be to share this with other because the kind of anxieties and worries can be at a different level that many wouldn't understand
My wish for you is that you feel safe enough within your relationship to be vulnerable and tell him your concerns. I agree with Belle, here.
Oh the fears that living brings us. We don't know, so we can't worry about it. There is a saying, "If you can't do anything about it, why worry? If you can do something about it, why worry?" I get what you are saying totally (but am past the point of where you are). 🤗
I'm an only child so once my parents pass away, I'd be all alone in this world. So yes, this fear does bother me quite often and it's so difficult to come out of it. I'm happy that you and your husband would have each other. Sending you lots of love and hugs ❤️
and how old is your parents ? they must be over 100 years old or i might be incorrect? dont want to jump to conclusion
whats your fears ? if you dont mind me asking that poem is missing a little taste.
Beautiful encapsulation of an inner monologue. ❤️