written december 2018
turned in for my creative writing final december 17, 2018
dedicated to a.b.
You will never walk alone,
not as long as I am here.
I will not stop,
we will keep walking
and everyday I promise to
stray from my jagged sharp path
to guide you in yours.
I will do it a thousand times again,
just for you.
We are breaking,
that's okay,
we are breaking together.
We will realign our pieces another day,
and we will pick the roses that
bloom within them.
But our tongues aren't made of flowers
that swish in the whimpering wind.
They're made of metal. A rat-tat-tatting machine that
bites and bites
just like their words
have bitten us.
But we are so feebly strong,
Alena, I promise we are strong
and in this world that
does not love us,
we love ourselves
and that is enough.
It has to be enough!
We walk along the line
where pills and therapists stand.
Where stigma sits soberly staring us down--
it won't break us.
That road can name us sinners,
they can howl and screech
all they want to.
We won't break.
Alena, you and I
instead will smile.
Because as long as we're together
nothing will stop us.
Nothing can stop us,
and nothing ever will.
We are alive,
Alena, we made it!
We are still alive
and that is enough of a reason
to smile,
love ourselves,
and walk together.
As long as I am here,
I promise,
you will never walk alone.
