The cardboard Man

They say he’s the "man of the house."

But no one tells you that even the man of the house has moments when he wants to disappear into it.

He walks in every evening, carrying not just a bag,

But all the things he can’t say out loud.

Fear of failing.

Fear of not earning enough.

Fear of being enough.

Fear of being found out, that he’s scared too.

But he smiles. Always.

Because that’s what men are taught to do.

He’s not made of steel.

He’s not carved from stone.

He’s made of cardboard.

Strong enough to carry your dreams,

Light enough to be moved when needed,

But soft enough to fold when no one’s watching.

He remembers your cravings at 2 AM.

He fixes the leaking tap without a word.

He waits outside the labor room, heart shaking,

and when your baby cries, he cries silently.

Because someone has to be “the strong one.”

He folds away grief.

Like a shirt he’ll never wear again.

Do you know how many “I’m fine” texts he’s sent

With shaking hands?

How many breakdowns did he schedule after everyone goes to sleep?

Do you know how long he stared at that bill before deciding not to buy that thing he’s wanted for three years?

He doesn’t know how to ask for help.

Because he’s been told he shouldn’t need it.

Because “real men figure it out.”

So he becomes a box.

And inside that box are things no one ever sees:

His family never said, “We are proud of you.”

He’s tired of being told to man up.

He wonders if anyone would notice if he broke down just once.

But even boxes break.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just... quietly. At the corners.

Where no one looks.

One tear too many.

One insult was too casual.

One ignored “I’m tired.”

And he collapses.

But he still folds himself neatly,

Because even in his worst moment,

He doesn't want to make a mess.

This is for every woman who thought,

“He doesn’t share much.”

He does.

You just have to listen to what he doesn't say.

And for every man reading this:

You are not a box.

You are a person.

And you deserve to be held, too.

You deserve a day when you don’t have to be the strong one.

A hug you don’t have to earn.

A “how are you, really?” that doesn’t skip past your soul.

Because carrying it all is not love.

Sharing it is.

If you love a man, check his corners.

If you are that man, it’s okay to unfold.

And if this made you cry, maybe it’s time we all stopped

pretending cardboard doesn’t bend.

----BiH@g ( All copyright ©️ Reserved )