Candy wrappers,
Dripping red.
Gum drop purple knees.
Salty.

Legs more fragile than glass.
You pluck them off one by one.
This is why the other kids keep their distance.

Drown out the laughs with your own internal screams.
Now you wish for that undervalued state of oblivion.

1.Wake up and drag yourself out of your comfort.
2. Put on your persona of the day, channel what you lack until it feels real.
3. Force yourself to speak, you wouldn't want to be left alone.
4. Crawl back into your comfort and waste away in your room.
5. Try to sleep, block out the thoughts, plead with the voices for a moment of silence.
6. Repeat.

To be loved is to be stripped down to your core. Until the truth is exposed and you're an open book.
And then be accepted.
Not for the persona you created, or the fake meaningless words you use to impress, not the clothes you wear, the way you part your hair, or anything of the sort.
But to be accepted in your pure state of self truth.
That is love.