270 days

by Eirini Gidari

Everyday is a struggle to keep my head straight my eyes open my mind focused a smile on my face my legs standing

My ears hear only what others want not leaving any room for my soul to shout the truth to herself and the world

I am relentlessly trying to fit into society's molds my mom's dreams my dad's beliefs my brother's academic success my teachers' expectations my hidden dreams remain hidden

All I want is to fall in love fall in love with myself my life my books an older boy who will buy me roses

Instead my whole being is poured into why that red number on the top left corner starts with an 8 and not a 9 why I keep failing despite trying my hardest. And wondering, if my hardest is my actual best whether next year I will have to face this terrible nightmare yet again.

Waves by Eirini Gidari

A smart girl full of time

Time to fulfill all the things she has in mind

Somewhere along the line everythinggets tossed aside

Waves of insecurity are dragging her behind "Somewhere in the deep ocean, there's always a distortion"

She reminds herself of that in order to keep calm and retain her breath while drowning among fear and regret

Light seems to appear on the island ahead

Eventually she escapes but before she manages to confidently dive and win the bet against the current

Her eyes get watery once again

And she relapses back to her unstable self...