there once was a girl

There once was a girl.

She both liked and disliked the concept of living, as it was equally terrifying to her as it was beautiful. She felt more safety in black and white than in colors, and sought the clean definition of a pen rather than the vague smear of a brush.

Ah yes, drawing lines had always come naturally to her.

There once was a girl.

She lived much more of her life in her head than in reality. Her thoughts spun and wove and grappled and moved. She laughed and smiled as the world ticked by, and at night the ceiling looked back at her as she sighed and wept and longed herself to sleep.

Oh no, feeling had never been a strange thing to her.

There once was a girl.

She sought out no intense desires of her own and struggled with her shy wants. Her complicated nature scared her, and so she stayed alone most of the time, hoping to escape her relationships unharmed. She deeply feared to let anyone in.

The locked door had always been a friend to her.

There once was a girl.

She had become numb to most of her existence when she stumbled upon goodness. She decided it deserved to be believed it, and so believed it. With goodness came fun, with fun came joy, and with joy came life. Life became something worth taking a risk for.

The budding of a rose became an inspiration to her.

There once was a girl.

She climbed the tallest tree and looked out as she ascended branch by branch. And though she felt each pang of fear bite her with each hand-hold she found, she was more and more overcome by the beauty of it all. And so she pressed onward, goodness smiling.

The sky and the world became fresh air to her.

There once was a girl.

She gave up her love affair with pain to chase goodness. Pain, though faithful, had never been a suitable lover anyway. With the loyalty had come possessiveness. She would never go back. And if she fell now from the highest branch, she would climb it all again.

Life became an invaluable thing to her.

There once was a girl.

And she left behind her childish ways and broke out into the light, afraid but full of hope. She became strong and bold, alive and true. She looked down and could no longer spot the shade of the branches she clung to now. Never again would she cower below in the shadow of life.

Her heart became beautiful to her.

There once was a young woman.

And I will never go back.