01/20/2026
be willing
to be the bad guy
in their story
if it means you finally
choose yourself
if it means you
stop shrinking
stop hustling
stop breaking
just to make them comfortable
they will call you selfish
they will call you cold
they will twist your truth
until it doesn’t recognize
itself in the mirror
but the truth is
you’re not cold
you’re just no longer
willing to burn
for everyone else’s warmth
you’re not selfish
you’re learning to love yourself
enough to stop pouring
from an empty cup
they will write you off
they will paint you in shadows
but boundaries
cast their own light
and authenticity is a beacon
your glow is a lighthouse
empty of apologies
trust the right ships
will find you
you will never
be the hero of everyone’s story
and that’s ok
be willing to be the villain
if it means you finally become
the hero of your own
***********
Poem © Sullins - from my new book "The Fragile and the Fierce" AVAILABLE HERE: https://angisullins.com/shop-3-2/
Times are dicey out there, friends, and free speech has gotten quite expensive. Please stay in touch with me by joining my mailing list here https://angisullins.com/get-your-muse-letter-2/. It’s the way I can reach you to tell you about public appearances, live readings, and any chance we have to get together as a tribe in person. It’s the best way to keep our independence in tact and the power to communicate alive, protected from being silenced.
art credit: Andújar Ortuñ
