The Veil

Blinded
and seemingly asleep —

they walk
on paths

that have nothing to do
with what they truly want.

Afraid to ditch
what drags them down,

they become
indentured servants
of a life
that was never meant
to be theirs.

People-pleasing
here and there,

grudgingly conforming
to a life imposed
by society —
or by others.

Alive,
but not truly living.

They dream of a life
they do not have the guts to start,
because it is too hard.

Distracting themselves
with pleasures and leisures
that only deepen
the emptiness inside.

They know
they are on the wrong path —
but fear of starting over
pins them to the ground.