Feeling trapped, I gasped for air. It's suffocating me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get out. A feeling of utter hopelessness engulfed me. I don't want to stay like this, solitary and closed off from everyone. Every day, small sparks in me snuff out one by one. I am afraid, terrified really of becoming empty, a living shell with no anchor to keep it from floating away. I had always kept the lids of my insecurities tightly closed. I won't crack them open even a bit. They are in desperate need of fresh air, yet I am still afraid that if I showed them the way out, they will be scorned at. Then I will be left with open, vacant and meaningless boxes. No more protection from the outside. No more hiding from the inside. I kept the lid closed.