For a long time, I was friends with silence.

But then it became the thing I feared the most.

I was scared of all the hidden skeletons that were slowly coming out.

My mind became home to mermaids and dragons.

And that made everything okay.

I was happy with the familiarity

Instead of running in circles,

Trying to figure out the cacophony of emotions ringing in my head,

Trying to find a higher mountain,

Hearing whispers telling me I was meant for something more.

But little did I know, things were rearranging themselves for me.

I had been crying my eyes out while a new path was being forged for me.

It wasn’t the beginning of the end, it was the the beginning of something good.

- Rania G. | stepping stones

I am sick of you always putting my candles out, even the smallest ones that I am proud of.

I am sick of being an emotional wrecking ball ready to destroy everything it touches.

I am sick of being ungraceful, ungrateful of how far I have come.

I need to get back to my hiding places again and sort things out.

As I swallow my pride and curl my fists, I wear the most convincing smile and say hello. It stings my tongue, but I need to end the drama.

I have come to know that we are all heartbreakers one way or another. You pushed me out of my own circle. I alienated you. It's exhausting. I can't do this anymore. I have to take a chance and try to climb a different mountain. I know I am no special snowflake, but I know I once touched the stars. I need to step back, take care of myself and wish you well.

I don’t like hurting people,

but I don’t like hurting myself either.

I want so badly to pretend

nothing has ever happened,

but I can’t.

You crossed a red line

and you were not even sorry.

An aura of mystery surrounds you and it intrigues me how you keep looking longingly at the ground beneath your feet.

You are the one they left behind.

But darling, there is fire running through your veins. You can’t sink back into obscurity just because you don’t want to be misunderstood. Being understood is overrated anyway.

For all I know, we are made of sugar and spice, so take your sweet time. A broken heart needs time to heal before being able to breathe life again.

I don't care what anybody says,

but tearing someone apart

and making them feel small is not love

despite your best intentions.

I am sorry, but I have to shut you out.

I have to draw the line.