To The Girl Who Feels ‘Less Than’ And Needs To Hear That She Is Everything

there’s a girl in the corner
whose lips form smiles
laced with torn-out promises
and tired acceptances
of empty apologies;

to this girl,
the one with an ache sitting
so deep in her bones
that it feels like want and love
are weighting down her shoulders:

you are not less than
the woman with ferocious eyes
and barb-tipped words
thrown like knives;
you, too, are

suffering and wanting and
needing and hoping and
tired and hopeful and
you, too, are
worth more.

you are not a disposable camera:
pretty and fun for now, useless later.
you are the god damn solar system,
and just because you are quiet
does not mean you are not enormous.