According to her internal judge

she was never quite up to par,

even when she crossed the finish line first

she couldn’t own the accomplishment. Always

on the outside of the window, looking in.

Perplexed by separation. She wanted to belong,

and never wanted to fit in,

knew it would change her.

A part broken off to forever float away.

No one else stayed after class to console the bullied teacher.

It never occurred to her not to.

She saw those faces on the fringe,

secretly knowing she was an outlier as well.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2017

In response to The Daily Post – Outlier