I have been with you since you were a child,
You sat back in class and watched all the children play together and become friends.
I know you wanted to be like them.
You wanted to run and laugh, and play.
I saw your first day of middle school, after you moved to the new house.
Inner city kids are a lot different than the kids you were used to being around.
Your acne made you self conscious.
You felt so alone even though you were surrounded by others who were going through the same things you were.
The same, but not the same.
You believe that you are the only one who could have possibly been going through what you thought was the worst time.
I saw you dancing with that girl in high school.
She invited you to her school dance.
I even saw when you accidentally hit her in the face with your forearm when you tried to spin her.
If you think you were embarrassed, you should have been in her shoes.
I saw you cry when your brother died.
I saw you move away from your home town thinking that you could escape the memory of him.
I saw you start to drink.
I saw the girl you met at 24, and I saw you a month later get married.
I saw the doubt that you had.
I even saw the first argument you had with your wife.
I was there when you went to war for your country and I was there when you came back.
I was there when your Son was born and 3 years later when your Daughter entered this world.
I see you struggle to find a job.
I see you worry that you are a failing father.
Why can’t you see all that I am and all that you can be?
You are not long for this world.
Everyone isn’t staring you.
No one is talking about you.
You are no different than anyone else.
Everyone has a secret, everyone has troubles they go through.
It’s up to you and how you deal with the things that bother you.
Open your eyes look around and you will see.
You have a family, a home, and me.