In their own words and images

The Monster Inside I’m tired of people running away from me, as if I’m a hideous monster. They come to see me for one second, then they’re gone. Nobody wants to talk to me and hear what I have to say.

Nobody cares how I feel. They just do it to me. They hurt me, make me feel like I’m a stuffed animal getting ripped apart by a rabid dog.

I try to keep to myself, but I can’t find a place to hide. I’m tired of them keeping secrets from me. I’m tired of being kept a secret. All I can hear is the soft whispers of their voices. Or having that feeling of not being able to go, not being able to be where they are, only because I’m scared. I’m scared it will ruin our relationship.I wish I could run, run away from me, me the scary monster. Find some way to hide. I just sit alone all the time. Feeling my heart crumble. Trying to comfort myself, knowing that if I go, I’ll only be shown the door.—Tristyn Chohong, 10th grade

Angelic CadenceHe glided into my life so gently and comfortingly. Like an angel on his first mission, his were eyes shining with passion and bewildering appeal. Never before had I experienced such boisterous urges to hold someone … love someone. Never before had I felt a total lack of belligerence.

If you could only imagine the cadence of joy my soul sang when he approached my heart. The feeling he gave me was so incredible, so unique and powerful, it’s almost impossible to explain or even give a name for it. This feeling was far from belaboring. In fact, I welcomed it with open arms. His attitude was benign and special, his sense of style baroque and creative. If I could have anything changed, it would be to have him to fall in love with all over again.

An aura of blue and purple fogged my vision when he whispered those words into my ear, words that had never meant anything until now. He touched something within me when he spoke, letting me know that he was incapable of betraying me. His soft touch calmed my very being. His faithfulness was revealed to me at that instant as a glowing, phosphorescent beacon of eternal worship and love. The spot in his chest that was once calloused and closed off to all was warm and opening to me and only me.

I’ve found that special someone, that someone that makes every bad day transform into a heavenly body of light and joy. Someone I know will always be mine. Even after death, we will not part.—Jason Reynolds, 16

Postponed Dreams

The only time I’d postpone my dreams,
is if a loved one passed away.
Even if my dream is real, it seems
I have to face another day,
another day of mourning for another family death,
another day of sadness, another soul to rest.
But we all know we don’t live forever,
just be sure you’re right with God.
It’s all for the better
because everyone wants to find that place up in the sky.
All I have left to say to you is …
Try,man, try.
—Seni Finau, 18

How I Feel

The way feel for you is past love,
It’s beyond measure.
I know you feel the same way too,
and for that, it’s you I treasure.
And even though I know we live
so far apart
I love you, girl, forever and always
till the last beat of my heart.
And I think of you constantly
You never seem to go away
Every hour, every minute of the day.
I thank the Lord up above
for bringing you into my life
and sending me your love.
It’s you that I cherish
The one I truly adore.
And it’s you that I’ll be with
for years and ever more,
and I know our love will get stronger
as time does pass us by,
and we’ll be together forever
until the day we die.
—Seni Finau, 18