Never Once
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When you're a child
all you think and dream about
is whether or not
your parents are gonna surprise you
with the unicorn you begged
them to have.
When you're a child
all you think and dream about
is the castle
you're someday gonna live in forever
with your Prince
or Princess Charming.
Never once
do you think or dream that
you'd be crying yourself to sleep
at night,
silently screaming internally, for the pain
is so unbearable.
Never once
do you think or dream
of the scars
you'll someday have on your body;
the endless blood-stained lines
from those horrific nights.
Instead of a fantasy,
you got a nightmare.
You wish you could
go back and somehow stop
your younger self from growing up,
because it isn't as wonderful as
they believe it to be.
You wish you could
save yourself from the demons
who hungrily thirst after
happiness and joy.
Unfortunately, you cannot -
there's no time machine.
But you can rescue the little girl or boy
hiding away, waiting to
spring free from your broken soul.
The scars you bear
were not what you wanted,
I know.
The tears you shed into your pillow
were not, either.
But that's the thing
about pain: it demands to be felt
for it is what makes us human,
it is what makes us stronger.
So don't be afraid,
don't ever be ashamed.
The past is awful to look back at
but you don't have to
anymore.
Because you're worth life,
you're worth more than gold.
Get up off the ground, darling.
Stand tall. Be proud.
Maybe you weren't
destined to ride that unicorn,
or ride off into the sunset
toward a castle with your
true love.
Maybe, just maybe...
you were meant to be
the Armored Warrior
you are today.
Guide that inspired this poem: