mind-numbingly sleepless nights

What it Means to be a Man

Be a man.
Do this, do that. Always pay the bill, carry her jacket and hold the door.
You're a man, you're supposed to be courteous.
Love your mom, be a soft mamma's boy.
Love your dad, be rough and spend time with 'the boys'.
You're a man, you have to carry the family.

Growing up boys are not allowed to have emotions. They are taught to shut them down.
Growing up boys are taught to be masculine by being strong, and aggressive.

Be a man.
You can't hold on to someone for dear life,
do not let them know you need them, or let them know you care.
Don't cry, don't let her hold your hand as you fall apart.
Don't hug, hugging shows intimacy, and you cannot be intimate.
Don't talk about your feelings, you won't appear as strong anymore, your emotions will be soft.

Don't say "I love you", it will throw you emotions out of alignment, and you might slip up and form a true connection with them.

You cannot express your emotion, unless it is anger.
Punch holes in your wall to show her that you love her.
You have to leave bruises down her arms from grabbing her
and pulling her back to you. You have to ignore her desire to leave you,
force her to love you.

Yell until your face is red and you hit her out of a blind rage.
Make sure she knows she belongs to you.

Break the bottle over his head, when the liquor's in your stomach.
Go to jail for assault; she'll leave you with tears falling down her face.
Make your bad habits worse habits. Become 'a drunk' and hide yourself but never cry.
Don't get help for your addiction, keep battling alone.
Don't let them help you, not friends, not family.

Be a man.
Do it by yourself. You have to take control without guidance.
You can't call mom and ask for advice, or dad and ask for some money.
Be a man, handle it yourself, you have to be the strong one.
You are a man, you can't compromise your masculinity with any act,
it is the backbone of yourself; far superior to anyone.