We all say we live in a free world. That we can speak our minds, chase our dreams, and be whoever we want to be. But if that’s true, then why do so many of us feel trapped inside ourselves? Why do so many of us carry invisible chains nobody sees, but we feel every single day.
From the moment we take our first breath, the world begins to tell us how to live. “Be quiet.” “Don’t ask too many questions.” “Don’t stand out.” “Fit in, or else you’ll be left behind.” “Hide your tears.” “Control your anger.” “Pretend everything is fine.”
We learn early on that being ourselves, truly ourselves, is dangerous. The parts of us that scream for attention, the parts that don’t match the “perfect mold” society carved for us, are forced into silence. Little by little and day by day we put on masks, hiding our true faces from the world, and sometimes even from ourselves.
We laugh when our hearts are breaking. We smile when inside we’re screaming for help. We say “I’m fine” even when everything feels like it’s falling apart. We are experts at pretending, but the pretending comes with a price.
We’re told “Be yourself”, but what does that even mean when being yourself means risking loneliness, judgement or even rejection? When being yourself means standing out and feeling like a target? When the louder parts of you get shushed by whispers of “Calm down” and “Don’t be difficult”?
How many dreams have we buried deep inside, scared that they’re too wild or too impossible? How many words have been swallowed because we feared what others might think or say? How many nights have we cried silently, feeling so alone even in a room full of people?
This isn’t just about rules or expectations, it’s about the crashing loneliness of feeling unheard in a world that demands silence. It’s about the heartbreak of wanting to scream but being told to whisper. It’s about the quiet desperation of wanting to be free, but feeling trapped in invisible chains stronger than steel.
True freedom isn’t just about breaking physical chains or laws. It’s about breaking the invisible ones, the fear, the doubt, the constant pressure to fit in. It’s about having a courage to say, “This is who I am”, even when your voice trembles. It’s about standing alone in a crowd of silence and still choosing to speak the truth.
Maybe we’re not just free yet. Maybe the chains are tighter than we realize. But maybe the first step to freedom is recognizing and identifying that pain, naming it, and most importantly refusing to let it control us anymore.
Freedom isn’t just a word. It’s a battle. A hope. A promise. It’s scary, messy, emotional, and sometimes lonely as well, but it’s ours to fight for, to claim, and to live every day.
So next time someone tells you to be quiet or act “normal”, remember: Your voice matters. Your dreams matter. Your freedom matters.
And one day, when enough of us decide to beak free, maybe the world will finally hear the real sound of freedom. Until then, I won’t stay silent, because my freedom begins the moment I choose to speak.
Prachi Chitrakar is a high school student.
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