Fear of The Gaze

By Sonakchi Pradhan

The fear of being judged, sharp as a knife,

Carves silent wounds, shapes a quieter life.

Oh, the fear of being seen, so raw, so deep,

It binds like shadows, secrets we keep.

Before we even step, it stifles the heart,

Crushing the courage before we can start.

A glare, a whisper, a silent dismay—

It haunts, it lingers, it won’t go away.

Scary and frightening, this life we endure,

Trying to be perfect, pretending we're sure.

But to live misjudged, misunderstood,

Is to wilt in darkness when we should have stood.

So maybe one day, we’ll break free of the weight,

To bloom, unafraid, and challenge our fate.

For fear may be fierce, but we can be too,

Living our truths, no matter the view.

By Sonakchi Pradhan