Gold

Everything that shines

ain’t always gonna be gold.

Some things glow because they’re polished lies,

because they learned how to catch the light

just right—

enough to blind you

before you get close.

I’ve chased the sparkle.

Mistook attention for love,

noise for meaning,

promise for proof.

Turns out some things shine

only to hide the rust underneath.

Not every bright future is real.

Not every smile is safe.

Some light burns fast

and leaves you colder

than the dark ever did.

I’ve learned the hard way—

gold doesn’t beg to be believed.

It doesn’t flicker.

It doesn’t need an audience.

It holds its weight quietly

and survives the fire.

So now I look twice.

I touch before I trust.

I listen to what stays

after the shine wears off.

Because everything that shines

ain’t always gonna be gold—

and I’m done trading pieces of myself

for things that only look like treasure.