I want to see the world.

and there’s something beautiful in the idea

of getting lost in the city with you

cobblestone footsteps lost into the colors

of the foreign laughter

and i can’t speak their language

but with you, we need no words

I couldn’t bloom.

She bloomed like pale peach blush,

stealing over the porcelain of her cheeks,

tears cracking down her mask

but she wasn’t allowed to bloom

so she withered away

and withered with their approval.