How I wonder how it feels like to step out of the window…
To feel what others feel
And to enjoy what others enjoy.
Once I look out the window, my eyes can’t help but to reach out and dream.
I dream of the sky, the clouds, and even my little sister playing on the swing.
I dream of how the other children laugh and scream
With their book bags shaking up and down as they run.
I dream of running with them along the sidewalk…
Laughing about the silliest things.
I dream how it is like to fly out and explore everything there is to know.
I dream of one day leaving my room and waking up from
My endless condition that puts up with me everyday.
I dream of not hearing—
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
His steps are so loud through the hall that even my neighbor could hear!
I wake up to see my father in the doorway.
His eyes are cold and his mouth is firm.
All that ever comes from his lips is—
“You are weak, Neftali.”
“How could you ever dream of going outside in your condition?”
He always tells me that I am a wanderer.
Just like my mother.
I never knew who was my mother.
All I know is that she died months after I was born.
But I pictured her as a strong and blissful woman.
A mother who takes my hand and leads me to the stars.
I never dreamed of her being weak,
Like my father always describes me as.
I wish I were not weak.
I wish that numbers would not make my head feel dizzy
That they start to float out of the paper
Leaving the 0’s and the 9’s left behind.
Even though I am horrible at math, I do have something I like to do.
I like collecting things…
Ordinary things.
Like chips, oddly sharpened pencils, and even socks!
I find beauty in them.
I also find beauty in words like…
Locomotive or chocolate
I love to read and write.
I love to use my pencil and let it create those oddly swerves
That you call “letters.”
But most of all, I love to dream.
Not only those dreams that you find when you shut your eyes.
But those dreams that you feel through your heart.
I dream that one day I will fly out my window.
I dream that one day I will explore the world.
I dream that one day I can laugh and smile with the person you call a “friend.”
I dream of having my mother hug me and say the words,
“I love you.”
I dream that one day my father and I will smile once again.
I dream that flowers can grow in rocks.
I dream that light can be found in the darkest caves.
I dream that there is a cure to every sorrow.
I dream that I am worth living.
I dream that one day I will experience a miracle.
I am a dreamer.