You say, "If you put a steak in front of a dog, can you blame the dog for taking it?"

I say, "If I tell the dog no, to leave it, a dog that understands boundaries will walk away. Do you have less self-control than my dog?"

You sit in silence. All this progress and are you really telling me that you are no more than an animal with no discipline? Are you really willing to compare yourself to a wild animal with no sense of self?

We should be teaching our sons respect, not telling our daughters that the world can never change.

"Boys will be boys." Well, if you haven't taught your boy not to touch my daughter, he will learn from me. And you haven't taught your daughter that boys aren't toys, she will also learn from me. Children are capable of learning boundaries. We teach them right from wrong all the time. We teach them not to cross the street without looking. Not to go with strangers. Not to pull the dog's tail. We can teach them consent.

It's simple: No means stop. No means stop. NO MEANS STOP.

No means stop teasing him. No means stop chasing her. No means stop what you are doing and change your actions.

A naked girl does not mean you have consent. The absence of a "No" does not mean you have consent. Consent is given before an action.

Rain hits the window slowly rolling down the glass, leaving streaks for another drop to follow. Clowds muffle the sun that fights to break through. Thunder rolls in the distance. A beautiful Texas thunderstorm rolling through. I look to the field outside the window. The rows of cotton that remind me of your soft shirts under my chin. The nurishing soil reminding me of your eyes, your beautiful brown eyes that reflected my love back to me. The rain slows my mind. Makes me take a moment to remember you and the time we had that was cut so short. I step outside; sit on the porch, a cup of coffee in my hands and the memories flooding my mind. A wooden swing, you pushing me so high I feel like I can fly. A pool party in the summer, you making waves for me to swim through. Mom standing on the porch with a smile as you dance with me in the rain. Yes. I'll take this moment. A silent world only broken by the rythmic tapping and the rolls of thunder. My tears mix with the drops rolling over my face. I miss you.

The voices in my mind scream that I will never be enough.

They are wrong.

The voices in my mind tell me that I will never measure up.

They are wrong.

The world tells me I'm too this, too that, not this. That I don't belong.

Who asked you?

I didn't.

I am more than enough. I am here. I count for something.

My life. The things I've been through. Have made me stronger, kinder, better.

I am loved. I am Strong. I am Me.

And Me is all I will ever need to be.

@CDrown

I watch and admire as you roll by, making sure everyone around you gets a quick “HI”

I watch and admire as you make quick jokes and diffuse tense situations

I watch and admire as you open your heart to people and love with your whole being

I watch and admire as you work with integrity and ethic that most people dream

I watch and admire as you create art with your photos and now your words

I watch and admire as you live with no regard for the boundaries that hold you back

I watch and admire as you see those frustrated with your disability and you treat them with a kindness they don’t deserve

I watch and admire as you embrace yourself with confidence that I can only dream of

I just wish that I could get you to see that a burden you will never be

I watch and admire you

The moon grows larger for its lunar phases by eating clouds.

It shrinks by farting them back out.

The sun sleeps in the ocean every night,

When it is pulled down by tiny people of the ocean

By their ropes and anchors.

It sizzles to rest.

I open my eyes to find myself surrounded by a soft light, like that which blankets the earth after a soft snowfall. In the distance there stands a lone table, beautifully crafted out of dark oak and inlaid with artfully designed golden florals, a man sits drinking from a mug with the bold letters proclaiming, "World's Best Dad" scribbled childishly on its surface. As I step closer to the surreal scene, he looks up a crinkle around his eyes and a subtle smile tugging at his lips, "What took you so long cupcake?". His voice is like honey to my ears and tears spring into my eyes; emotions cloud my throat and I'm rendered speechless. Concern spread in his deep hazel eyes, and I can't help but pinch myself. This has to be a dream; another nightmare that is waiting to take a turn and tear my soul apart. I know better though. It's real. My soul knows that this is real.

"Cupcake, get out of your head and come sit with me."

Tears well in my eyes again, but I push them down. I wont waste this gift. I"ve spent years praying for the chance to visit with my daddy, and God has finally guided me to this moment. I sit down and notice there is a mug sitting in front of me. To calm my nerves, I reach for the steaming cup and bring it to my lips. My tongue is greeted with the rich flavors of my favorite coffee. I'm not surprised.

"Daddy, I have so much to ask; so many questions."

The smile is back in his eyes. "I know Cupcake, I've heard all of them. You'll have answers in due time."

We sit together in a silence. Not the overwhelming silence of a stranger, but a comfortable one that can only be achieved with years of friendship.

He looks up from his mug, which I now decide is his characteristic cup of black coffee, and looks at me softly. "Cupcake, you haven't been happy lately." Once again, I am not surprised that he would know this.

"I know daddy. I've been so lost. I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I thought that I had my life figured out, but doubt creeps into the corners of my heart. It spreads each day until I can longer tell where I end, and it begins. My chest starts to tighten until I can no longer take in a breath-" "-Cupcake, slow down. You think too much. God has a plan for you, you are exactly where you are supposed to be right now. Your next step is right around the corner, but in order for Him to tell you which path to take, you have to clear your head and listen for His guidance." His eyes are sparking with laughter and I know that he wants to poke fun at my overactive mind. Now is not the time though. He refrains from his comment but the mirth in his eyes can't be hidden.

I take a moment to look at him. He looks healthy, like the pictures I have of before he got sick. Dark brown hair covers his head, and hazel eyes, duplicates of Jessica's, that dance with a warmth that hers had never achieved. An easy smile constantly hovers at the corners of his lips, and he looks relaxed in his chair. I can't help but picture how different my life would look if he had survived. Surely having a father who never met a stranger in his life would have changed how painfully shy I get around those same strangers.

"Cupcake, you got lost in that head of yours again. What has you so distracted?"

"Daddy, why did you have to leave? Didn't you want to see my graduation? Wedding? Children? Jessica is married and pregnant now; didn't you want to be a part of that?"

"Hunny, I wanted nothing more that to grow old watching you experience all that life has to offer, but my time was up. I had to make room for someone who needed all of you more that I did. Dewey was a good dad to you, probably better than I could have ever been. He needed your mom, he needed you. And y'all needed him. We may not always understand why God does things in the way that He does, but He had a purpose. He still has a purpose. You have to have Faith in Him. You have to be willing to listen to His Wisdom. I have been there for you. I watched you give a speech at graduation, I watched you move into your dorm. I guided you to a friend in class. I watched Jessica get engaged, married, and God called to me when He send Ezra. I have not missed a moment of your lives, and I will not miss a moment of your lives. I am so excited to watch you discover your path. I am so excited to watch your friendships grow stronger. I am excited to see healing take place in your soul. Cupcake, I never left you; I have always been right here smiling into a cup of coffee as you live the life that God has planned for you."

Tears were streaming steadily down my face, and there was no stopping the torrent of emotions that had clouded my mind. But my heart was lighter that it had been in a long time. A peace filled my soul and as I gazed at my dad, the full wonder of the place that surrounded us became visible.

The table was sitting on a porch in front of a golden street that disappeared into the distance. Miles of wildland surrounded us, strikingly similar to the Fish land, only healthy, vibrant with life. A stream swept past the house; I instinctively knew that if I followed the path upstream there would be a waterfall the likes of which the world could never imagine. I knew where I was, and yet my mind could not quite process the information. My eyes once again met his comforting gaze.

"I'll be waiting right here Cupcake. I'll be watching, celebrating, and loving you from right here. When the day comes for you to join me, I'll be right here."

I woke up with a peace lingering in my heart and a slight grin on my lips. The calm that had followed our conversation remained and lulled me into the most peaceful sleep that I can ever remember.