When he was 7 years old,
he learned the meaning of hurt,
because he knew his father-
left bruises around his mother's neck.
By 10 years old,
the sun didn't shine as bright,
and the grass wasn't as green.
everything seemed dull.
At age 13, he couldn't tell the difference-
between nightmares and reality,
there were monsters in his head.
On his 16th birthday,
he counted the scars on his torso,
and the pill by the nightstand,
and thought some things through.
But 3 years later (age 19).
he smiled that crooked smile because-
he could feel the sun on his skin and-
the flowers were finally blooming and-
he had made it
