You would not expect
to feel alone
amidst a team of five,
but the balance is precarious
and all is not
as it seems.

I've known them all for years
we've worked, joked
worried,
shared sadness and joys
supported
laughed and hugged
each other.

We traded ideas,
shared new knowledge
thrashed out theories
encouraged, praised
and cared
for each other.

I thought we had hewn
firm foundations
of trust
friendship
respect

I was wrong.

So when the drip drip
of hearsay,
stifled truth …
and arrogance
crushed
honest questioning
I became

a stranger

alone,
isolated,
desolate,

in that room,

in the midst,

of my team.