Punishment

A word we use

To point fingers,

Draw lines,

Say you’re wrong

And I’m right.

To separate the ones who broke the rules…

From the ones who made them.

But here’s the thing—

Why take the hit

When you didn’t swing?

Why wear chains

When your hands are clean?

Somewhere along the way,

We learned to punish each other

Instead of understand.

We gave out pain like it was justice.

We took pain,

Thinking it meant peace. 

Ohh dear, 

Who gave me the right to punish you?

You don’t have to assume

That every silence,

Every no-reply,

Every short answer

Is punishment.

It’s (may) not  your fault.

It’s just—

Sometimes,

It’s hard for me to reach across

This distance in my chest.

Hard to connect

When I’m lost too.

But listen—

Friends don’t punish.

Real love doesn’t come with a penalty box.

You don’t have to suffer

To be seen.

You don’t have to bleed

To be believed.

Dear self…

Stop accepting punishments

You didn’t earn.

Stop saying sorry

For simply being

you.

You are not a mistake

Needing correction.

You are not a problem

Needing pain.

So lift your head.

Let go of guilt.

You don’t owe suffering

To prove your truth.

Because there’s no punishment

For being

Whole.

சிகரன் 

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