The silence pressed, a heavy stone,

A secret kept, a seed I'd sown.

Charlotte's streets, a muted hum,

My heart a cage, where feelings numb.

But words, like birds, took wing and flew,

A truth released, a sky of blue.

The weight lifted, a gentle breeze,

A newfound peace among the trees.

No longer bound by chains of fear,

I stand upright, my vision clear.

The burden gone, a lighter soul,

I'm finally free, and back in control.