Some Cages Don’t Have Bars

You carry them in your head

To break free of that cage is next to impossible by oneself

Unless you’ve sat in that cage

Unless you’ve felt it’s talons grip the brain

Unless you’ve heard that lock click shut

Unless you’ve tried every key to break the lock open

Unless you’ve tried every crowbar to move the bars

Unless you’ve tried every conceivable option to break out

Unless you’ve gone to multiple places to help free yourself

Only to be met with blank stares

Only to be asked ‘Why didn’t you try harder?’

Only to be gaslighted, that it wasn’t that bad

Only to be left behind because of carrying an invisible scar

Because not all cages are visible

But they still do damage