I once was normal.

Human,

Straight A's,

Active,

Surrounded by friends type of normal.

I once was positive.

Hopeful,

Determined,

Dreamer,

Goal setting type positive.

But most importantly, I once was in love.

Happy,

Butterflies in my stomach,

Always together,

Head over heels type in love.

But all that's now gone.

I can no longer be normal because of what I am.

I can no longer feel happiness for I'm consumed in sadness.

And I can no longer experience love for no girl could or would ever love a monster like me.

I can no longer see the light like I used to.

All I see now is darkness.

I’ll never see the me you see

Beauty and grace 

Simple words that leave me with a bitter taste 

Fractured and flawed 

Devastatingly depraved from the world around me

But you stay

Unafraid of my dangerous mind

The poison that leaks through the cracks that I hide

Cover the holes 

The scars 

And bruises

Stuck in a state of limbo

And still you wait

Never wavering from your post

Guarding and protecting this lifeless ghost

The grains of sand that fall

Quicksand to my heart

Slowly wasting breaths 

Unapologetically insane

This disease killing the cure

Running from the masses

Hysteria heightened with each will to live

Cutting down my progress

Slowly

I sink back into my hole

Solitude excluded 

as they poke and prod

Manifesting fears that were never there

This constant state of despair 

And still you wait

The businessman clutched his briefcase – knuckles white. His blotchy red face caused the people walking towards him to shy away. Abruptly, he turned on his heel and disappeared down an alleyway. As expected, his business partner was waiting for him there, leaning nonchalantly against the grimy wall.

“Is this some kind of joke, man?" The first man whisper-yelled while gesturing wildly at his briefcase.

The more lax man just laughed and said, "I have no idea what you're talkin about, Benedict."

Benedict slammed the briefcase against the wall, and a loud buzzing began to emanate from the leather case.

"Oh…" the man said, "that."

Benedict shushed him and fumbled with the latches on his case while muttering curses under his breath. When the case opened, a swarm of insects escaped and buzzed about.

"Bees, Richard!" Benedict screamed, "Beeeeesss!”