Fear

Fear is a serpent, black as night. It snakes through your dreams and shrouds them in darkness. It crushes your hopes in its long coils, and poisons joy with its fangs. In the day it hides in every shadow, waiting for a chance to strike.

Fear is a great monster, chasing you down. It snaps at you, baring sharp teeth and swiping massive claws. It shakes the ground with its stride, never ceasing, never allowing you to rest. Its breath can be felt on the back of your neck any time you think of what could happen next.

Fear is a creature that tells you of the betrayals of your closest friends. Fear tells you that those who care for you are truly only trying to hurt you. Fear tells you that any word you say could be wrong, any attempt to explain yourself could only hurt you or those around you. Fear tells you never to confide in anyone, but to stay in its choking darkness forever.

Fear tells you that nothing can ever get better. That the sun can only ever set, and the rain can only ever pour harder. Fear keeps you locked inside its box, promising safety. But the box only ever gets smaller, until it crushes you.

But fear is a lie.

Hope is the feeling when you see the light at the end of the tunnel. The day when you realize that tomorrow could be better. It's the sun peeking through the clouds. Hope tells you that you can make it, if only you keep going.

Confidence is the wind at the top of a mountain. It blows your hair back, but it doesn't knock you off. It reminds you that you are the one who made it up there. It tells you that you have the strength not only to get to where you are now, but to climb mountain after mountain, for as long as you want.

Joy is a friend by your side, even a friend who doesn't understand. A friend who, even when they don't know why you do anything, only wishes the best for you. A friend who, in the darkness, carries a light big enough for the two of you, and only asks that you do the same. A friend who, when you hurt them, even on purpose, even over and over, just keeps coming back. A friend who only ever wanted to help you.

A friend who can't help you unless you try to help yourself. Because the first step into the light is one you have to make on your own. But your friends are waiting, they are waving you down from the light. They know their own place still isn't perfect, but they don't fear the next day because they have each other.

All they are missing is you.