“

Denial sits in the chair in the corner and stares at her phone, waiting for his name to pop up on the screen. Waiting for a text message or a call, anything at all to validate his continued existence.

“

Maybe you’re just tired of surface-level people who don’t understand you or take the time to hear you, so you’d rather be alone. 

“

I really wish they had taught me this stuff in school.

“

This is not a humble-brag, because there is absolutely nothing worth bragging about in being whitewashed.

“

What will happen to you when you see the one thing you don’t want to see?

“

I keep reminding myself that taking a small step back does not mean I’m a failure and should give up on whatever I’m trying to accomplish. It means I only need to take a single step forward to get back on track.

“

I wish I knew how to be myself without acting so tough all the time.

“

And so, I cry. The tears forming chasms down my cheeks, as they etch out the stones of my clenched jaws and loosen the tension held day after day.