I'm so sick of this stupid shadow. It follows me everywhere, hidden or beaten back for the moment but never gone. It has all my life, and it will continue to do so until I am eighteen. It's a dark curse, a frightful one, and almost definitely where my colorful magic– this one powerful gift with writing– originates. I suppose it made me who I am, but the deep scars it's left will never fade. They'll be shiny scars, but right now they're so painful.

Does anyone else have a shadow like mine? I'd love to hear thoughts on this topic.