i'm done trying to solve the universe.
i believe it is time for the universe to try and solve me.

take a shot and run away from home just to find out that the open road was never yours to begin with. stay awake all night just to see how dull the darkness actually can be. break your own rules and lose the keys to your escape. go back home shouting that no one could stop you from leaving. you're begged to stay before you even pack your bags. because these days your friends are becoming as blurred as their morals and the teachers are doubting your innocence. keep your mouth shut for a month and never forget the words that burned holes into your throat.

my whole life I had told myself, "don't be afraid."
only after some years did i realize how ridiculous
the statement had become.
"don't be afraid."
that would be telling someone not to move
at a punch,
or not to flinch at the heat of fire.
i'm afraid and you're afraid and it will forever carry on like this.
what we should think is,
"i am afraid. but i will do this anyway."
live anyway.

I've never been one for looking back,
nostalgia is a liar,
but when I think of us all
I am paralyzed.
we live in our boxes; land forgotten
by time, government, and one day
forgotten by us.

we flash our rosy liped smiles
and test the waters.
my boy! the moon in his
crystal eyes.
with our shins bruised and
laughs wandering, we use our
words as ammo; language exploited.

we have yet to give up fairy wings
and battleships.
nevermind
the late nights and headlights.

we sulk because we are so young.
we cry because everything is so
beautiful.

when we think back to these days
I hope you remember our nights;
stardust fires. a scorched galaxy
in full force.
we nearly kissed the sun.

-N.M.

I never wanted to be described as pretty. People have told me upon meeting how pretty I was, and I despised it. I didn't want to be pretty. I did not want to be crushed and molded into that empty term; pretty.
I wanted to move mountains and dance on the stars. I wanted to spray paint on the moon. I wanted intelligence and courage, and wit and charisma. I was a novel, not a page.

then one day I finally realized that I could be both. we all could.
and that's how I live now.
we are all pretty. we all are made of stardust and memories and courage and charisma.
we are.