Rule number one
Don't be too fat, no one will like you
But don't be too skinny because you will seem anorexic

Rule number two
Complete seven hours of homework in one night, and study for 2 tests
But also have a social life so that you will be cool amongst your peers
And also get enough sleep

Rule number three
you need to be there for that person
listening them ranting on about their problems
but do not expect them to care about yours

Rule number four
Have a close friend
Be loyal but do not come off as too clingy
or they will leave you

Rule number five
hold onto your virginity
or else you will be called
a ****, a *****, a player

but do have children in the future
or else you will be called a ******
and you will constantly have the question of why you don't want to be a mother
hanging over your head

These are the double standards that I live with
every day of my life
Seemingly so filled with impossibility
that I'm convinced that I am not good enough

Dear mom,
Thank you
for all those times when you have picked me up
when I fell, no matter how big of a fall it was...
from when I first learned how to walk,
to when I first failed a test(sorry)
you have always been there

I know that sometimes I push you away
sometimes I am frustrated, emotional, and want to be alone
sometimes we may disagree on some things...

But I hope that you know
that you will always hold a special place in my heart
that you mean the world to me
that I am sorry for taking you for granted
and most importantly,

I love you with all the love in my heart

Love,
Jia-Rong Tsao

To my love:

I hope that you will always stay like this
so bright
so full of life,

always using the great ability
to light up people's darkest nights

I hope that
when you enter a phase of unfamiliarity,
a time of darkness

a time of tears and loneliness

you remember
I am amongst the stars
I will try to light your path
and to provide comfort with my light

remember,
life is not always full and bright
life is not fair and it is not always good,
like you are...
life will be evil
it will drag you into darkness

but I know that...
if you are strong enough to pull the tides
you are strong enough to make it through those dark times
because

your fullness and your brightness will come back
and your lightness and your capability to shine
your fullest potential
will return

I used to be a full moon
So full of life
So bright

But now its full of darkness
As I settle into a new life

As I leave the familiar, safe space
A place that I know
A place that I love

I feel the darkness of unfamiliarity come
as I enter
this new cycle of life
this new phase

I hope I can find my light
and my fullness again

A blue moon in the sky
A blue tear running down my face
Blue shadows everywhere
As I think of you

It is enchanting
How the moon one day
is not there

and the next moment
it is there...
a whole circle

an endless cycle
unlike your love
ever changing

just like you...
You are just like the moon
full of love, full of warmth one moment

then one moment
you disappeared

You keep visiting me in my dreams,
the only endless cycle left