Don’t worry little one, this will all be forgiven and forgotten I know you’re going through a lot right now and I pray that you make it through this with open eyes And a keen sense. You are on your own now
nothing more, nothing less. My information is true
and I know what you’re going to do. I know because I’m you. Don’t listen to any negativity from any one and always be yourself! I know it’s rough but it’ll get better I hope you find solace in this letter.

In his arms, the world aligns just right,
A place where heartbeats synchronize in the quiet night.
The hustle fades, the stress melts away,
In his arms, it’s easier to face the day.

Under open skies or beneath the city lights,
His embrace cuts through the coldest nights.
A gentle strength, a quiet might,
With him, even the darkest moments become light.

Time softens its relentless march,
In his arms, there’s no need to guard my heart.
A soft touch, a steady hand,
In his hold, I truly understand.

Each worry lifts, each fear retreats,
In his arms, life feels complete.
He’s the calm when life gets tough,
In his arms, I have more than enough.

No place else I’d rather be,
Than here with him, where I’m free to be me.
All that’s gentle, all that’s warm,
I find right here, safely wrapped in his arms.

In the vast silence where words once failed,
Among shadows where fears prevailed,
You, so young with steps unsure,
A silent fighter, pure and demure.

Born into a world unkind, you struggled to find your voice,
A journey not chosen, but imposed without a choice.
Nonverbal, delayed, they labeled you, placing limits they saw fit,
But even without words, your spirit refused to quit.

Taunted and teased, a playground’s cruel jest,
The bullies and mockers putting courage to the test.
Harsh boundaries crossed, a young heart betrayed,
In those silent battles, your resilience was displayed.

From the depths of these trials, your mission took root,
A desire to shield others from the oppressor’s boot.
With every tear shed, a resolve grew within,
To fight for those silenced, a war you could win.

Now, your voice is finding its mighty roar,
Speaking out for justice, opening new doors.
Each injustice you faced fuels your fervent plea,
Advocating for change, setting the silenced free.

The pain once endured now powers your cause,
Championing rights without a pause.
With each step forward, you reclaim your might,
Turning darkness encountered into future bright.

So march on, unbroken, with your head held high,
Proud of the battles fought, under life’s gray sky.
Creating a world kinder, just, and true,
From the ashes of your past, the best of you anew.

With courage and love, stronger than ever before,
Your journey from silence has opened the door.
You’re not just surviving; you are setting the pace,
For a world that sees all, beyond any disability’s trace.

With love and pride,
Your older self, unbroken and proud.

I bleed rainbows and cry stars

I find community in bars

I was sorrow, I was sin

I denied myself to win

I was lonely and unsure

But no longer immature

I am love and I am strong

I am fearless in my song

I don’t care what others think

And I’ll raise another drink

To brave souls that came before

And blew the locks upon the doors

I am free and I run wild

Like the art made by a child

No remorse and no regret

What you see is what you get

Walk with me and feel my pride

And you will enjoy the ride

Of vibrant life and color burst

Without hunger, without thirst

I am technicolor smile

It just took me but a while

Now I am “alternative”

Let me love and let me live

They said I’d burn, but I found my fire,
Defying the limits of their uninspired mire.
Tales of a perfect life, a distant, elusive dream,
Yet here I stand, my reality upstream.

Solving my Rubik’s with time, each turn a surprise,
The colors align in ways they couldn’t visualize.
A mosaic of triumph, far beyond their design,
A life that’s unfolding, uniquely mine.

Now, a grad student, my ambitions taking flight,
In a happy relationship, my heart alight.
Only 21, and stepping into my first role,
The future’s a canvas for my eager soul.

Looking ahead, I see a path of my own making,
A journey of dreams, for the taking.
Years stretch before me, a vast, open sea,
Every wave whispers, “This is meant to be.”

So let them talk of flames, of battles lost and won,
I’m the architect of a life that’s only just begun.
Conquering dreams, with each dawn I rise,
For the future is mine, a boundless prize.

The other day I told someone about you
what you left for me
what you left of me
their wet stone tone replied: I’m so sorry
and like a sprout through concrete
so instinct and automatically
I told them: don’t be.
I’m not.
Because
there are no words
for gifts this big
what you taught me
what you brought me
in our innocence like daisies
how your sacrifice had saved me
better than Christ himself
anyone can say
my lover
anyone can say
my partner
anyone can say
heartache
and break
and suffer.
But for me—I know it’s real.
Far beyond what children feel.
We learned what
passion was,
what freedom was,
what making love was
as if we were human
and nothing else
as if being human
was enough
and when you stopped
being human
the world didn’t notice
night fell
dawn broke
and how I tantrumed in contortions
in rebellion of this earth
to be so brash
betraying me
to keep turning, turning, turn.
And I learned that living takes effort
even just to breathe
and eat
and move
and speak
I wished my ribs would splinter
wished the cars would halt their noise
and every morning
I would touch myself
and pray I’d hear your voice
and the sensation
of forgetting
the way you sound and smell
was a wicked type of torture
—it’s own dynasty of hell.
You’re just as incomparable
as the pain you left behind
and how living was unbearable
and yet, somehow, I survived.
I couldn’t follow you
for the honor of our love
for the wittiness to the horrors
and all the pain that I had felt—
I needed it.
It’s my evidence, my proof.
I was a runner—not a warrior.
A deserter—not a soldier.
Yet, I learned trust
and kindness
bravery beyond—
birthed in ashes of despair
I bloomed into something else.
And that something is so pure
even moreso than our love.
Patient. Understanding.
I am gentle and I’m strong.
I am wise and I am generous.
All the things I didn’t have to be
until you were gone and out.
Wish you could see me now.
And what your death had brought me—
is so much more profound
than anybody’s life
and I know it’s strange to say,
but I’m not angry at you anymore.
I’m glad you got away.
Because I always have you,
and I’m more beautiful like this.
Overcoming losing you—
the most amazing thing I did.
And I don’t need your voice, or scent,
to remember how to love
out of all we learned together;
being human is enough.

In the intricate fabric of life, both dark and bright threads intertwine,
Weaving a story of joy and sorrow, uniquely mine.
No single moment shines so bright,
But every hue blends just right.

From peaks of joy, where hearts soar free,
To valleys deep, where eyes barely see,
Each step, each stumble, and each stride,
Together, they guide me inside.

The laughter that echoes after tears,
The courage that grows from facing fears,
In every up and down, I find my way,
In darkest days and in the lightest fray.

Lessons learned from love that’s lost,
Strength gained, no matter the cost,
Wisdom from making amends,
An open heart when the journey bends.

It’s not just one moment, but the collective thread
That weaves the path I tread,
Both storms that raged and calm that followed,
Dreams that soared and sorrows swallowed.

I stand grateful for every scar,
Every healed wound, every star,
For what has shaped me is life’s complex weave,
A journey rich, in which I believe.

In gratitude, I embrace both joy and pain,
Recognizing each moment’s unique gain,
A step in life’s perpetual ballet,
Changing me for the better, in its own way.