It’s hard to say nice things so I stay quiet.

I want to speak but I might cause a riot so I keep my mouth shut instead,

I was taught not to talk if nothing good could come from it so I listen and keep smiling.

Under the surface, there are storms stronger than your skewed

beliefs cultivated by the fake news fighting for attention on your screen.

I want to call out and make you hear how stupid you sound.

The battle cry of people desperate for you to understand, to close your mouth, and open your mind to perspective rings in my ears.

I want it to make yours burn.

I want to feed you the truth I have had to extract from every article I have ever read,

I want to correct you but there’s no use in trying when you’re tied up in conspiracies and lies you drink so willingly, gulp down so wantingly,

bobbing your head as they spew nonsense into ears that happen to be selectively absorbent,

eyes going wide when you realize 

that I don’t share the same opinions.

Rather than tell you more about them,

I face the cream-colored wall in your kitchen

or excuse myself to go to the restroom upstairs, out of earshot so I can send my friend a few voice messages about how much your lack of knowledge and lack of desire for it pisses me off.

I take a couple of deep breaths.

Leaving topics untouched and 

subjects, thoughts, and counterarguments 

unmentioned, unsaid, and unchallenged

for the sake of peace.

Yours, and my own.