They’re the best. They’re beautiful. They’re refreshing. They give me hope.

The people who would rather be honest and sound foolish than lie and sound clever.

The people who mean what they say. The people who look at you and tell you exactly what they’re thinking, how they’re feeling and share a lot more than they should.

The people who trust strangers, who are willing to look vulnerable, who are willing to discuss their weaknesses are the strongest kind of people.

They’re the ones who don’t know how to play games, how to manipulate others to get what they want or how to wear a different mask in public.

They’re the ones who are real. They’re the ones who show you their scars and tell you their stories. They’re the ones who are not ashamed of their past of their mistakes.

They’re the ones who make you feel comfortable, they make you feel safe knowing they’re not lying to you, they don’t have ulterior motives and they’re not trying to get close to you for selfish reasons. They’re talking to you because they genuinely like you, they genuinely want to know more about you. They genuinely care. 

They’re the ones who hug you a little tighter, give you more than one kiss, stay for one more hour and try to keep you in their lives. They’re the ones who always make time for you when you need them. They’re the ones who remember birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions. They’re the ones who always remember YOU.

They’re the ones I want to surround myself with. I want to remember what it feels like to be around people without having to question their intentions. I want to remember what it feels like to speak openly without the fear of being judged or pushing someone away. I want to remember what it feels like to be around people who show you their true colors without repainting them later.

I want to remember what it feels like to be around people who don’t change their minds about loving you or drop you for someone better.

They’re the ones I truly miss. They’re the ones I’m trying so hard to find. They’re the ones who make the best of friends. The most loyal lovers. The ones who have the kindest souls and the biggest hearts. They’re the ones who make me want to be a better person. The ones who bring out the best in me.

They’re the ones I need. They’re the ones I long for. They’re the ones who I can be completely myself with because they embrace others. They embrace imperfections. They embrace chaos. They embrace differences and they’re compassionate.

Their mission is to heal and fix people. Their mission to is to try to rebuild what others have destroyed.

Rania Naim is a poet and author of the new book All The Words I Should Have Said, available here.