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Days when your heart feels heavy, your chest begins to close, your body imagines a burden set upon your shoulders.

Days when your bloodshot eyes feel as if made of iron, begging for even an hour of sleep, when your teeth feel indescribably off, a gross feeling that has you running your tongue over them constantly.

It's those days when your feet drag on the floor that you want to give up on everything, all of your hopes, all of your ambitions.

It's those days when you want to lie on the moss and let the earth grow around you, accepting you as society never has.

Days when your clothes itch no matter how you squirm, when every breath that your friends take get on your nerves.

Days when the heat or the cold is just wrong, and you retreat into your room for some semblance of peace.

Days when your leg won't stop bouncing, rhythmic and random at the same time, a paradox in and of itself.

It's those days when your breathing is soft and reluctant that you want to sleep, to close your eyes and never wake up, never have to face the world that was so cruel and unfair to you.

It's those days when you want to go down without a fight, placing your weapons on the dusty battlefield where you fight for your life.

But I am here, now, to tell you that you are strong. You live in an apocalyptic world run by a dysfunctional government, and yet your generation refuses to stand down.

You used to be like that, too. Glaring at the adults who shame you for enjoying what your generation has, yelling your battle cry as you rage against the leaders of this dying world. 

I am here, to tell you that though you feel heavy, though your body is rejecting help right now, you are everything that the world needs.

You are humble to your achievements, not for yourself but because adults shame you for feeling any sense of pride.

You have pulled back your hair and forged ahead, into environments that adults would look at and wither, but not you. 

You are beautiful in a way that adults cannot fathom, eyes wild from the realization the you don't deserve how they are treating you.

You walk proudly from theaters, after watching female leads on the screen. This is an age of change, and your generation will lead the charge.

You will be in the ranks of teenagers that are burning down the houses of those that try to get you to comply.

You are brave, so brave, and you will only grow. You have your whole life ahead of you, unlike the adults that are dying and yet try to outlive you.

You can cry, you can laugh, for you have realized that adults don't control you. They may be in charge of this world that is fading fast, but they too are dying. 

And, when at last this world is purged of the disease that are the oppressors, who will be left?

You will. You will be ready to take the throne, ready to lead this world to the path of healing, ready to hug and cry unashamed, utterly and completely in love with life, prancing through fields of wildflowers, adorned with a crown of laughter.

When the darkness has left this world, who will be left to revel in its wonder?

You will.

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