(To my bestfriend. And to everybody else who can relate. The text has been attributed to both Judith B. Evans and Veronica Shoftall. Line re-sequencing, mine.)

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After a while,
you learn the subtle differencebetween holding a hand
and chaining a soul.
And you learn that loving doesn’t mean leaning
That kisses aren’t contractsand presents aren’t promises.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns
if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

You learn to build your roads on today
because tomorrow’s ground is uncertain
and futures have a way of crumbling in mid-flight.
And so you you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes open,
with the grace of a woman,
not the grief of a child.

And you learn you really can endure
that you really are strongthat you really do have worth.
And you learn, with every painful experience, you learn.
With every good-bye comes the dawn.