Walls

Walls.

Many people have them,

some lack them.

As the old saying goes,

“A home is more than 4 walls and a roof.”

walls don’t just make up your home.

It takes love and family to fill that hole.

The normal kinds of walls are the ones you find all across the city.

In normal buildings,

skyscrapers,

Even in the poorer districts, many places have walls.

That doesn’t mean they are all solid or perfect though.

Many are cracked, broken, and chipped away by erosion over time.

For others, violence shapes them.

Walls may be perfect on the outside, but on the inside they may be crumbling.

The blinding white walls of doom in hospitals certainly aren’t friendly.

But the walls that defy all odds are the ones people build up.

Not physically like in construction sites.

But internally and emotionally.

Unless you’ve gone through hard times, it’s hard to empathize on a true level what it’s like to have walls.

Sure, every human being has walls.

The world is ruthless after all and you need to put on a tough face, never faltering.

Independant, never weak or broken.

The reasons these unnatural walls build up in people’s minds actually have a logical reason.

They can’t show weakness.

The victim can’t show they have faults.

They need to be perfect in other people’s eyes.

To the level of berating themselves for simple things.

These walls build up because of past events,

and are triggered like PTSD when reminded of said trauma.

Some walls are taller and thicker than others.

Many are thin and easily broken.

Those of strong will tough out the heartache,

though most can’t muster the strength to do so.

That’s why when people always have their guard up,

it’s normally a sign of ever-building walls.

Never slowing down.

This isn’t the case for everyone, maybe they’re just in a bad mood.

But sadly it is true for a lot of other people.

And they can’t be faulted for that.

It happened all of a sudden,

and is very hard to correct.

I should know.

Because I have walls too.

Not as many, or as thick as others.

Not as thick because I’m lucky to have a normal life (and not some crazy backstory,) since I have a normal life.

but I’m still entitled to building walls to not show weakness to others.

Especially family.

Until they experience it themselves,

they won’t get it. 

Walls may be simple in most people’s eyes,

but the deeper meaning lies beyond the surface.

And for that, you need to take that uncomfortable dive,

one whose journey isn’t always sunshine and rainbows,

and doesn’t always end on a good note.