Prelude (1/1)

Wo ai ni. Aishiteru. Saranghaeyo. Te amo. Je t'aime. Mahal kita. Ich liebe dich. Aloha Au Ia ʻOe. Asheghetam. Ja vas l'ubl'u. Ndiya kuthanda.I love you. Empty, meaningless words for my soul, they were. But not anymore.I found catharsis in spitting those words out, mocking each and every predator, intruder.They were my paradise, my savior in these hopeless skies. I had not always been the cynical creature I am today. As a kid, all my energy was wasted upon keeping my mouth shut in front of strangers and pouring the piles of words out for my family, and my best friend. Oh, who knows what would have happened without my best friend. She continues to be the only one who can latch me down at my worst, the only one who truly deserves me at my best. I grew up quickly and healthily, my long limbs never out of proportion with my torso. My mind, however, did not ripen. Sometimes I was a tough piece of steak, sassing the pants off of every adult. Other times I was a squirming puppy, kissing up to everyone and acting like I was still four. I am like that still today.But then it hit. It drained me of the protein of smiles and of the happiness of, well, being happy. I almost let it define who I am today, let it win the battle. Although I came out victorious, it was still the true winner, in an ironic way. And goes on to haunt me every second that the sun shines.