This morning, the forest is awake

The animals scream

The wind howls

I can't see the sun

The forest is afraid

My mind yells and screams for peace

I still believe in the good

I witness good every day

But I remain pessimistic for the future

I feel as though I am approaching the end

It feels like this way of life will end soon

It feels like they will take it away from me

I have to trust that it won't

To continue forging ahead

But it's hard to trust the process

When the signs point that this will only get worse

I am afraid of those who hate me

They want to burn it all down

I fear the forest may burn

That nothing will be left but its charred remains

I just want to live

Please let me live

I just want to clarify that I'm... fine

These are some of the thoughts that go through my head at times. When I am unsteady, this tends to be where my head is at.

I try to put these thoughts out of my mind most of the time.

Sometimes, however, I am overwhelmed by them, and I thought that trying to put them to words this morning would help

I will continue to live as I do for as long as I can, and I shall not compromise an inch of that unless I have too

But it is hard to not remain afraid of what it is they plan to do. How far they intend to go.

When your enemy throws out the rulebook, is it not logical to be afraid on how many rules they intend to violate?

I push these thoughts out of my mind. I try to retain my trust that the line will hold. That things won't break. And even if they do, they may only break for a moment, and can be put back.

But I remain afraid