Do not mock the world that I live
The one between pages, between printed covers
That feel right in my hand the way I don't feel right in the world most days
Because my home is in the words printed and spoken and lived
By people who may not be real to you, but are more real to me
Because they alone has seen my hardships
My struggles, my pain
And they help me forget but they also help me remember
I am strong and bold and fearless
I am a warrior, a princess
Someone who goes to get their destiny when I can't even get out of bed some days
When I stumble, they catch me
When I have questions they have answers
When I want to know them, I can
Real people aren't like that
They aren't words on a page you can learn
They aren't unwavering
They aren't infallible
They are blurred sharp edges that will cut you deeper than any words on a page can dull
The world I live in is safe
A world where muted grays mix into my favorite people
Because they too have scars their world left them
Do not mock the world that I live
For it is the safest I've ever been
