I remember a day so long ago

I was just a kid who believed

In magic where a dream would come true.

Just a kid who saw the world

In a positive manner where everyone was good.

 

Before I met you,

I owned shelves of Disney cassette tapes

Who taught me little things throughout the movies.

Ones where I had walked away with valuable lessons

Until I forgot about them.

 

Before I met you,

My favorite movie was The Lion King

Which involved my favorite animal: the lions.

One which taught so much about

self acceptance, self advocacy, and most importantly home.

 

Before I met you,

I went through so many scars that left invisible wounds

And moments that forever stayed in the back of my mind.

I questioned who I was and where I came from.

I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror.

 

Before I met you,

I was lost with nowhere to run towards

And no one to turn to about my uncertainties.

I held nothing in my hands

Except for silence in my words.

 

Before I met you,

I was trying and failing classes with a D or F

That somehow, I got a pass somewhere to see a presentation.

I desperately filled out the application because why not?

Seriously, what have I got to lose?

 

And I met you.

I was shitless scared because I thought maybe you wouldn’t like me

Because I was quiet and uncertain and hard to crack.

You sat there and wrote down everything while looking at me in the eyes.

I was running my mouth off before the time was up.

 

And I met you again.

Just weeks later, I was accepted into the program and was told to

Call you. Or in my case, email or meet you.

We talked for awhile as time stopped.

I can’t remember most of our conversations.

 

And I remember your eyes.

I couldn’t remember exactly what color they were,

But something about them made me feel comfortable

That I brought down my walls and revealed my pain.

Through conversations, your eyes were always listening to hear me.

 

And I remember your smile.

It was always me who talked the most in our conversations,

But you always smiled because for some reason, I didn’t exactly know.

There were days where it was just gloomy like Seattle and you didn’t smile.

In seconds, I knew you cared about me.

 

And I remember how you would forget things.

You always write down something to remind yourself.

I’d laugh because I felt the same way, somehow.

However, you never forgot me or my story.

You guided me through and believed in me.

 

And I remember your hugs.

I know for a fact that I don’t hug just anyone.

But somehow, your hugs are always okay

That it brings me inspiration through my veins once again.

You always told me that it’s going to be alright.

 

And I remember getting on a plane, twice, because of you (and Colin, duh).

You were excited for me as much as you knew we’d miss each other.

In both times, I was breathing in everything we said to each other.

I accepted and believed in myself with everything you’ve helped me for.

I was jumping off the edge for an adventure.

 

And I was gone for a few weeks.

Facing everything I came across to and having fun

Through many challenges of self advocacy and trust.

And although I wasn’t thinking of home,

I was smiling in places I’ve never been to.

 

And I was gone,

Writing poems and tasting the world with my tongue.

Learning who I am in different worlds that I see.

Thinking everything that we’ve talked about and settling down.

Believing in myself through every step of the way.

 

And I came back,

I took a deep breath.

The trips changed my life in action.

But you changed my life in ways I never thought of.

I was astonished.

 

And I wrote endless words about everything.

I was thinking about my life and how everything’s changed.

How grateful I am to have lived through my journey,

To do things I’ve never thought I’d be capable of doing,

To have met people as amazing as my mentor.

 

And I saw you, once again.

Oh, it felt like yesterday you were just interviewing me

You heard me talking so many things in less than 5 minutes with the other staff.

Before I could snap out of the moment, I was going to say something to you.

Instead, I didn’t know how to say it.

 

And I sat down with you, one more time.

We talked for minutes about my trip feedbacks and other news.

You brought news: You have been promoted as manager!

And it meant you couldn’t be my mentor at the same time.

I watched your face, smiling and tears and we shared a moment of silence.

 

And I was at loss of words; I wasn’t ready.

You always collected rain and put them by your window.

In the next day, you always looked forward for a rainbow.

Because of you, I do the same thing as you every day.

With you, we turned the other cheek.

 

And we hugged once more.

But I hope somewhere somehow with you,

You’ve become a family to me.

As you saw me at my best and worst hours,

You’ve helped me in ways that I would have not have thought of.

 

I could have done it all by myself in another life

This could have been a battle to fight alone without a fright

And a knight in shining armor to help through the night.

I probably would not have needed someone to walk me through hand in hand

But I will accept a friend who is not afraid to stand.