Maybe then

If I ruled the world and everyone had no choice but to do my bidding, I would order my father to stop drinking. Maybe then, he'd listen to me and the red of his eyes would finally begin to fade. My father drinks whenever he can, so long as there is a bottle of gin in the store; so I would ban every alcoholic drink and tax their manufacturers to bankcruptcy. Under my reign, no one would be allowed to drink. They could try but once I'd find out, I'd have them swig down every drum of alcohol to the last drop.

If I ruled the world and the money-system was in my hand, I would burn money-lending companies to the ground and fine them for taking advantage of my mother. If there was no law for that already, I would have my legislators draft one right now. Every undue interest they demanded from my mother, I would take away from them, no interests added because I am not like them. And I'd tell my mother to quit her worrying about money. I would be the ruler of an entire planet, surely there'd be a fine salary in that.

If I ruled the world and people would strain to listen to me speak, I would tell the dean that I wasn't unworthy of being a scholar, unlike she said. I'd clarify that I did participate in school activities but I was just lazy to mention them in my forms. If only she had the mind to take a look at my grades, she would have realized earlier; and she would not need to be shamed for shaming a world ruler in her small office.

If I ruled the world and my words bore the power of my army, I'd decree for my neighbor to stop hurting his children. I hear them crying everyday because they dropped a glass or tripped clumsily and so got belted on the arm for that. He has a pretty huge build and an intimidating aura but if I ruled, who would be scared of whom now?

If I ruled the world and my power reached far, I'd command my subordinates to go find that little girl I saw on TV. She had progeria, they weren't rich, and she did not have long to live. I'd order them to bring her to the best clinic and have her checked up regularly. I'd finance the research for her cure, and if there were still none, I'd like to make the rest of her days the best she'd ever known. The boy with hydrocephalus, the girl with heart disease, the twins whose bones are frail, and all those people I saw suffering in the news, I might not be able to save them but I'd like to try.

If I ruled the world and my every breath counted, maybe I'd start to realize then how important I am. Maybe then I'd stop doing these stupid things to myself. Maybe then I'd stop punishing myself for all the times I have erred. Maybe then, I'd be able to recognize my own worth and at last forgive myself.