Why do we humans feel that

we have the right to

disregard all other beings

and do whatever we want to do?

Do we really think our vanity

is worth their suffering?

Is a slight increase in confidence

worth all the pain that it will bring?

Using all these products

meant to make us beautiful

to cause such terrible agony

is something unforgivable.

Injecting medications

meant to benefit humans

into defenseless bodies

so very different from our own.

We’ve known for many decades

that this cannot be accurate.

Stopping all this torture

would be for everyone’s benefit.

Creating such conditions

to cause depression and hopelessness

just to study their reactions

and see if they apply to us.

What could it possibly have been

that made us believe that

tormenting other creatures

would help us understand ourselves?

How can we continue

to inflict so much pain on

such kind and loving creatures

and not see that it’s wrong?

I hope that soon we’ll realize

the error of our ways

and at last we’ll bring an end to

these dark and evil days.

I loved you for so long.

I tried to be so strong.

I know I did everything wrong,

I just hoped someday you’d see me standing there.

I tried to be your best friend.

I listened to you talk about them,

knowing they would hurt you in the end

but not knowing how to say that to you.

I loved you as you once were

before you ever met her

before she caused you such hurt

that you couldn’t stand to be yourself anymore.

I hated her for what she did.

Though she and I were once friends

her cruelty I could never forgive.

How could she hurt someone as selfless as you?

I knew that she would break your heart,

smash it to a million tiny shards.

That was clear right from the start,

and still I stayed to help you sweep up the pieces.

Even after all that pain

and all her little childish games

you still loved her just the same

and you gave up yourself to get someone like her.

You changed the person I cared for

to make all those pretty girls want you more.

The one you’ve found is beautiful of course.

I’m sure all your friends will envy you now.

You always wanted those girls

who were coveted by the whole world

the ones made of diamonds and pearls.

How could I have thought you would ever want me?

I hope that you are happy now

with the brand new life you have found

and I hope that you will figure out

how to have all the things that you've always wanted.

So many things to say to each of you,

most of which I probably never will.

So much pain we’ve caused each other,

and yet I love all of you still.



I am glad

that we’ve finally learned to work things out,

and I’ve come to terms

with what I know I can’t do anything about.

Still I wish

that our relationship was no so forced

that we could really talk

and try to understand each other more.

I have learned

how not to let the things you say

make me feel bad

or see myself in a different way.

I try so hard because you’re my family.



Sometimes I think

that you are really my best friend,

but other times

I’m so afraid to let down my defense.

I think only you

Understand this twisted brain of mine.

How can this be

when you say such hurtful things sometimes?

How can we feel

so very many of the same things

and yet react

in such completely different ways?

I still confide in you because you’re my family.



I have always

trusted you with most everything

I’m glad that now

you finally feel that you can trust me.

Now I know

you blame yourself for everything that went wrong.

You think somehow

you failed us back when we were young.

Well you should know

that none of that was ever your fault.

I know that you

loved both of us with all your heart.

I want to help you because you’re my family.



You are all my family.

You will always be my family.

There are events

from our time together

that make me sad

every time I remember

the way that I felt then.

That week that we stayed

in that cabin with our friends.

You and I had never really

talked much before then.

The night before we were leaving

when everyone else went to bed

you asked if I wanted

to stay up with you instead.

When we were talking that night

it became clear to me

how very alike

you and I seemed to be.

We just seemed to understand each other.

Then there was the time

you stood up for my views

though I know that back then

they didn’t make sense to you.

I wasn’t really that bothered

by the comments he made

but I felt so very grateful

for what you said just the same.

No one had ever defended

me like that before

suddenly I didn’t feel

so alone anymore.

Thank you so much for that.

Remember that night

well I guess it was morning

we were both driving home

from the midnight premiere movie?

We never did find out why

but traffic was stopped

we got out of our cars

and just stood there and talked.

The sky was so clear

and the air was so warm,

just standing together

admiring the stars.

That was such a beautiful night.

These are the memories

that make me miss you the most.

No matter what happens

I know I’ll never let them go.

I’d like to meet the mirror image of myself,

someone who feels the opposite

of everything I’ve felt,

a girl who’s done everything right,

and has never changed her mind

about what she wants.

I’d like to meet her just to see

how much happier than me

she really is.

I’d like to meet someone

who could have been like me,

but made all the right decisions

and turned out differently,

a girl who’s not afraid

and makes the most of everyday,

so I’ll know it’s possible.

I’d like to meet someone

who’s happy as she is,

who feels completely comfortable

inside of her own skin,

and doesn’t make herself feel bad

for every flaw she has.

Maybe she could tell me how she does it.

I want to meet the person

I could have become

if I had not been so afraid

and did all the things I wish I’d done,

and I want her to say

that I am still okay.

That I turned out alright.

When I was a child

I dreamed of being an actress.

Now I find that’s exactly what I am.

Every word I say

to every person everyday

is just a line.

How can I tell the truth

when I don’t even know who

would be telling it.

The person I pretend to be

changes with my company.

I can only be myself when I’m alone.

I can’t believe they don’t see through

all these different masks I use,

but somehow they don’t.

I’m so shocked to hear them say

that I always seem okay

and happy all the time.

Many times I would like to

show them how untrue

that statement really is.

But I know that would be

nothing but trouble for me.

There would be too much to explain,

like all the lies I told

to keep the secrets that I hold,

and who I am beneath those lies.

So I will hold my tongue

and just let everyone

believe what they want to.

And I’ll keep up my act

and let everyone think that

I have no problems at all.

I’ll be whoever they expect.

They’ll never have to see the wreck

that’s hiding underneath.

I’ll build a person from the ground

using pieces I have found

in their ideas of me.

My many flaws will never show

and they will never have to know

that I am nothing but smoke.

If your religion makes you better,

more patient and more kind,

if your religion brings you strength,

and stimulates your mind,

then you deserve the peace and happiness

your god has helped you find.

But if it makes you think that you

are more than someone else,

if you think that it gives you the right

to condemn someone to hell,

then what good has it really done?

Who benefits from that?

Would the world really be any worse

if we were to live without

all the prejudice and persecution

brought on by this endless fight

over whose god is the real one,

over who is wrong or right?

I’ve no doubt that faith can be useful

many people it has helped.

It must be nice to count on something

that is stronger than yourself.

Well I don’t know what’s true or not

and I won’t pretend I do

but I don’t need a book to tell me

what I should or shouldn’t do.

I think that deep inside us all

we know what’s truly right.

If we could each live by our own hearts

there would be no more need to fight,

over who is good, and who is bad,

and who gets to make the rules.

If we let everyone be who they are

and let each person choose

to do what makes them happy

and live a life that’s free from fear.

Why should it bother you anyway?

Why would you even care?