She was that girl
The one at the back of the classroom
Always in her seat
Always quiet
Always with her book

They called her
"The Walking Encyclopedia"
Not because she knew big words
Like onomatopoeia and diversification
But because she carried an encyclopedia with her wherever she walked

They didn't know

They didn't know that her books were the only things that kept her grounded
They didn't know that at home her books saved her
Because at home
It was worse

She never came home to a
"Hi honey! How was your day?"
Instead
She consumed herself in her books
Her encyclopedias, her novels, her fairytales

Fairytales
They were her favorite
Because unlike her life in the real world
The seven dwarfs always had open arms
The three little pigs always had their doors unlocked
And even the witch was willing to spare her an apple
And with her books, she was who she wanted to be

And she made it

Day after endless day
The past behind her
(Yet never too far behind)
She made it

He was that boy
The one that everyone was jealous of

At first

In third grade
He could stay up past 8:30
Because his parents didn’t stop him

In fifth grade
He stole Kit Kats from the convenience store
Because his parents didn’t stop him

In ninth grade
He didn’t come to school for three weeks
Because his parents didn’t stop him

In eleventh grade
He moved out of the house
Because his parents didn’t stop him

Finally
He realized
It was because his parents didn’t care

But he grew up
And he grew a little taller
And it was as if
Each of those inches he grew
Were each of those times
His parents were not there

And he grew taller
And taller
Until finally
He grew out of the past
And grew into the present

Like the roots of a tree coming up through the sidewalk
He broke the barrier
And became who he wanted to be

And with the past behind him
(Yet never too far behind)
He made it

But he never let go of his past
And she never let go of her past
And even though
The past makes us who we are
Who we are may not be good enough for everyone

They'll tell you, "Good enough is neither good nor enough."
They'll tell you, "You need to be greater and better."
And greater and better
And greater and better
And greater and better

And those words
Will constantly pound in your head
And beat to the same rhythm of your heart
Until you can no longer tell the difference
But it doesn't end here

It can't end here

Because you have the ability
To change that beat
And make one filled with laughter
And tears

And those books you hid behind
And those times you spent alone
Matter no more


Because this is your life
And this is your beat
And this is you

And if anyone tries to stop you
Tell them,
"You were never good enough for me anyway"