Mountains You Cannot See

I watch the world sprint by—

everyone else reaching milestones like checkpoints

on a race I never started.

Graduations, promotions, weddings… a family.

their lives stacking achievements

while I’m here

just trying to get out of bed

without breaking.

Brushing my teeth?

That’s Mount Everest.

Taking a shower?

An Olympic event.

Each move drains energy

I don’t have to spare,

but the world keeps spinning

As if I should just keep up.

They scoff and ask,

“Why do you do so little?”

And I wonder,

How do you do so much?

You run marathons

while my lungs collapse

on the first breath.

You conquer your days

while my victories

are getting dressed

and showing up

in any way I can.

But I feel it,

that creeping voice

that whispers,

Lazy.

Pathetic.

Not enough.

It echoes louder

when I see your effortless pace

while I’m frozen in slow motion.

But it’s not my fault.

And maybe,

one day, I’ll believe that too.

Because surviving

in this body

is a full-time fight.

I’m not lazy—

I’m climbing mountains

you can’t see.

-Giusiana