I Never
went to sleep
because when I did,
I'd dream of swimming
towards where the sky
meets the ocean
longing to reach the sun.

I Never
let my guard down
because when I did
People got too close
and I am claustrophobic
and, the closer they are
the worse they can sting.

I Always
kept an eye on myself
because when I didn't
bad things always happened
My finger prints would get
all over everything
and everything I touched died.

I Learned
that trusting can be dangerous
especially trusting myself
because I'm too good at deception
to be trustworthy
and I'm foolish enough
to believe my own lies.

I Tried
to be nice
and less aloof
Because I realized that
misanthropes rarely had any friends
and I need to have
at least one shoulder to lean on.