I want to be brave for you

I want to smile when it rains

I want to answer when you call.

I don’t want to live in fear,

it’ll be the death of me

but where do we go from here?

I’m trying,

but I’m tired of trying

and getting no results.

I want to be brave

like I was when I was ten.

I want to feel the wind against my skin

and not cower away.

I want to feel

again

I’m done with this complacency,

this everlasting loneliness.

it’s like they turned the lights out

and I can’t find the switch.

I want to be brave

for myself

so I can say I beat the demons in my head

I don’t want to be brave

for anyone else

because if I’m doing this for you

and you leave

what’s left to fight for?

I want to be strong

for myself

so I can look back

and smile when it rains.

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my life is not meant to make you comfortable

I started to realize why people come out

it’s not because they want to be brave

it’s not because they want to be a shining light

it’s because they’re angry

at the injustice being thrown upon them

and the words ignorant people speak

not directly at them

but meant for them-

they hurt

and they anger us

until we finally speak out

and in my 23 years

I’ve barely seen change

for the trans community

and people are so openly saying

we don’t exist

we’re just confused

but we are here

and we’re not going away

despite what makes you uncomfortable

my life is not meant to make you comfortable

the world won’t matter

I have fallen in love before

and it’ll likely happen again

I just hope the next time

it’ll be with your wit

or your smile

or your hair.

If I fall in love again

I want it to matter

more than it did

when I fell for someone

who didn’t love me back.

I want you to love me

I want to matter to you

I want to hear you say my name

lovingly

as we watch our favorite show.

Because the world won’t matter

until you say my name.

the sticky summer air

The sticky summer air

wants to know how I’ve been

since we last talked.

I’ve had my ups and downs

but I’m here now.

I didn’t find God

but I did find a purpose

hidden somewhere between the stationary aisle of CVS

and New England in September.

Sometimes winter feels like going

through hell and back just to

feel summer warmth again

but it’s worth it

or at least there’s some gratitude

as I’m sitting under

a cherry blossom

and I feel myself blossom,

too.

table

And I was so focused on the table

Brown with a crack down the middle

I couldn’t imagine ever taking my eyes off it

Especially not to look at your face

I could picture it just fine in my head

Even after the tears welled

And I couldn’t see anything anymore

I knew you were looking right at me