"You've changed."

YES.

Yes, I have.

My answers to you, certainly, are the same no more

But are your questions to me, exactly what they were before?

True, I no longer appear to be who I once was

But don't you now observe me through a different eyeglass?

Agreed, I am quite changed from the person you've always seen

But why don't you notice, my circumstances are also not what they'd once been?

"I've been in your shoes and walked a good mile, that's no excuse. You are just not the person I've known"

How do I make you see, the shoes you've been in are ones that I've outgrown?

You scrutinize what I say, you judge what I do, but turn a blind eye to what I feel.

What you don't see is that the load I now carry, is heavier a great deal.

"You mustn't allow what's around you, to alter what is inside"

I know not how far I succeeded, my friend, but trust me when I say I tried.

Perhaps, you have a point. My words, deeds, thoughts may be the same no more.

But what you claim has changed, and I KNOW has not, are my values and beliefs - my very core.

Sometimes, when you say "You've changed", you leave me wondering if you're right

Have I drifted away from myself with time? Or are you just seeing me in a different light?

Between self-doubt and confidence, every wind of "You've changed" makes me sway

Am I the same? Have I changed? Do I need to? For better? Or worse? I hope life tells me someday.

Until then, (I hope) I'll stay the same way. 

The Tranquill Poet 🤍

P.S - Thank you, Shreya, for "No Tears". You inspired me to pen down something I've held within me for over a year.