Shame comes after the moment has passed.

After the words have been said.

After the mistake’s already done.

It sits in the chest.

Replays scenes you wish you could delete.

Whispers things you would never say to a friend.

You hide it well.

Smile through it.

Laugh it off.

Yet it lingers,

waiting for moments to speak up again.

Shame makes you shrink.

Makes you doubt your worth over one misstep.

Makes you believe you're the worst thing you’ve ever done.

But it doesn’t tell you

you're allowed to grow,

that you're allowed to learn,

allowed to move forward.

Mistakes are part of being human.

They don’t cancel you.

They don’t define you.

So when shame shows up,

do you let it cage you,

or do you face it,

acknowledge it,

and choose to keep going anyway?