Written for The Flying Dutchman Issue #28’s open call for submissions.
The walls have ears, and they listen.
Hundreds of thousands of stories have been heard by the invisible walls that surrounds you, be it the walls of your family, your peers, your world, or those of your heart. The walls have heard them all: tales of love and of hate, of euphoria and of shame, of insecurity and of pride, of selfishness, of sacrifice, of grief. It does not matter whether the author speaks with their voice or their pen; when the story is spoken, you cannot shield your story from criticism, opinion, or praise. What was once spoken cannot be unsaid.
It is normal to be afraid. You are afraid to tell this story, because you hold it dear to your heart; you fear judgement because you are afraid that it will break you apart. Do not let this fear bind your words. Beyond the fear, you must realize that the permanence of a told story is not a weakness but a strength, for we are the sum of the stories we’ve told and heard. We cannot exist without them. Tell your story, because no one else can tell it for you; because you will die someday, and so will I, and it would be a shame if we did not understand each other because we were too afraid to speak; because you have something to say, and that is enough of a reason to speak, to write. You must let the walls listen, for there must something that you are willing to fall for, and you must be vulnerable in order to be heard.
Maybe there’s a story that you’re too scared to tell; a message you’re afraid to share; a narrative you can’t bear to hear from your own lips; a belief too precarious to claim as yours. If so, this issue of the Flying Dutchman is a sign to tell your story, to spread your message, to show your narrative, to stand for what you believe in, because your story deserves to be heard. Treat your words with care and honesty, and let yourself be known by your peers.
Walls have ears, but let them listen anyway. Let them hear what I have to say, let them discuss and criticize my words, let them judge me for my beliefs, for I have given my truth and nothing but the truth, and I am not ashamed for who I am.