FEAR.

I am scared, scared, and scarred.

At 3, I was scared—

scared of the dark,

monsters,

the fear of being left by myself.

At 6, I was scared—

scared of the bully

who made me realize

I was good at nothing

but arithmetic.

9, 12… 15,

I discovered my first truth—

love wasn’t what it appeared,

and my parents

were just as imperfect

as my form.

I wish I had listened.

At 18,

to the bully

who made me realize

arithmetic couldn’t solve

life’s problems,

Thank you.

21,

my scars became

beautiful marks.

Seeking solace

in the traces of deception,

wining and dining

with demons of the past—

fear.

Fear became

an accomplice.

It breaks,

it builds,

until it becomes

a mark

no longer rejected.

Fear, fear

is acceptance.

9… 12,

I was scared

of acceptance.

Udu Sylvia, a 19-year-old wordsmith weaving vulnerability and strength into every verse. With a voice that echoes the complexities of youth, Sylvia’s poetry explores themes of love, identity, and self-discovery. Follow her journey on Instagram @alexsylvia_ , where she shares snippets of her soul-stirring work and invites you to join her in the beauty of words.