I Am Me

I am from the pile of crumpled pieces of paper on the floor, from Kraft, moving trucks and slamming doors.

I am from that one place, then another, then back.

I am from clover and chains, the meters of wilted sweet in the sun.

I am from tacos at least once a week, from Michelle and Corey and Gaston and Douglas.

I am his "burrito", his girl, his one, where insult-based humor is the norm and words are never enough.  

I am from a place where I knew only of the backyard and my bed, from being dragged between home and home.  From "carrots will give you boobs" and "Papa's monkey, Nana's dolly, Momma's baby".

I am the kind of person that places my life within a song, then lives it to the tune.

I am from tearful emotions and poor poetic writing skills, from not caring and continuing writing this anyway 'cause I can and I have to.

I am from a family where isolation is a reward and dinners consist of silence with a side of awkward.

I dream of lights, laughter, love, and life.  Of equality, of the ability to appear elegant.  Of being able to understand what I haven't considered.

From solitude, from over-protection and art.

I am from a world where "your" and "you're" play Chinese Firedrill and become interchangeable.  From barely real and really bare, where Photoshop increases self-esteem and a "like" can save a child's life.

I am from a place where loves are perceived as obsessions, where things are assumed and I am mom.

I am from video games and beer, work and school, where home exists in two places.  Three.  Four.  More.

I am a girl who loves a boy who isn't afraid to say it out loud.

I am a person who bases opinion on fact and feeling, who has wishes and dreams and hopes.  Who loves their dad and mom and sister and life.

I love life.  I am a person who isn't afraid to take a leap into the unknown and see what happens.

I am from upbeat attitudes and hidden emotions, nights where sometimes crying is the right thing to do and sleep can wait.  

I am from Raine and rain, obituaries and coincidence.  From "oops" and April 6th.  From "I love you" and "Good night" and "I miss you" and "Come 'ere" and "Don't worry, you'll see me tomorrow".

From seeing things though my eyes, and preparing for tomorrow.  By keeping my chin up and looking to the sky, however cloudy it may be.

I am me, and nothing can ever change that.