A constant pain

I'm not brave like you
to open a chest of drawers
locked below an ocean,

Not brave enough
to surrender my heart to paper
lay out dreams which failed
to fly time and time again,

No I'm not brave
for each spoken word is
carefully guarded and tamed
to hide from this world,

I wish...
wish to be more like you
so cruel tongues will not take me
on a painful ride,

Your absence...
your absence in my life
is a curse, a constant pain
that has swallowed my strength,

Will I ever be able to stand tall
and face this hostile environment
without you by my side.