for my twenty year-old self
i hope you give out kindness and happiness
i hope you accept and tolerate differences and flaws
i hope that, when people see you or hear your name,
they would remember feeling at ease
i hope you comfort people who are hurt
i hope you surround people with peace.

i'd also like to ask you,
to not put yourself in the flame, for the sake of others,
to make them warm, when,
all they ever do is hurt you, and let you down
you matter
so, leave them behind, stand up, look up and ahead
always move forward
for your mind and body are for your heart, soul, and passion
people should not cross the line to change that fact.
these people are told not to hurt, and
if they do,
please leave and save yourself
please know that, your twenties, and the rest of your life,
don't belong to anyone else but,
you, your decision, your wishes and hopes.

i hope you have a good life
one you can always remember and cherish
and when adulthood is tiring, you can always look back
to your five year-old self, rooting for you
to your teenage self, your sixteen year-old self,
dreaming about you and all the good things coming your way
take a break, take a breath,
you can always get up, and start again.

*i love you, and i forgive the past